HOW TO INCREASE FEMALE REPRESENTATION IN PARLIAMENT
One of the relatively small number of women to sit in the Kenyan Parliament describes the obstacles standing in the way of female representation and outlines what has to be done to develop not just Kenyan women politicians but all Kenyan society.
Hon. Amina Abdallah, MP, in
Nairobi. Ms Abdalla is a nominated MP serving her second term in Parliament. She is a lawyer who has campaigned for women’s rights. She is also a member of the National Organizing Committee for the 56th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference.
Hon. Amina Abdallah, MP
Mahatma Gandhi is quoted as saying “if peace is to be part of our being, then the future is with women.”
It is apparent that most countries in serious civil conflicts have the fewest female
18 | The Parliamentarian | 2010: Issue Three - Kenya
representatives in their Parliaments. Inevitably, most post- conflict Parliaments have more female representation. An example is the Rwandan Parliament. Similarly, countries with better social security such as the Scandinavian countries have relatively more female representatives. These are a demonstration of the instrumental role women play in the social, economic and political stability of a country. Women appreciate that peace is the core that holds the three together.
Women and representation The underrepresentation of women is a global issue. Nowhere in the world are women
represented in government in proportion to their population. In the current post-modern society, female participation in all aspects of life is of essence because balanced gender representation is essential for proper governance. Scholars and policy-makers have shown increased recognition of the importance of women’s contributions to African development. In addition, the involvement of women in decision- making and political leadership has become a major concern for governments and the civil society throughout the world.
Representation of women in elective positions of power, for example the Legislature, is a matter of justice and equality and