On 20 November 2018, Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa came out against the Two-Thirds Gender Bill, saying he would not back a proposal he believes could open Parliament to people who do not earn their seats through competition.
Speaking to journalists in Parliament on Tuesday, Barasa said he would mobilise fellow MPs to reject the Bill, which was sponsored by Majority Leader Aden Duale. He argued that the proposal, in its current form, does not explain how women would be nominated into Parliament.
Barasa used unusually harsh language in attacking the idea, saying some women leaders were pushing for a process that would allow a “slay queen” to enter Parliament without serious effort. He said: “Some women leaders have also said they will not support a process where the only thing that a slay queen does is take a shower three times in a day, wear a nice cologne, and get some contracts from China to get these plastic sitting allowances so that she can appear before the party leader and get the party nomination,” Barasa said.
He added that many women work hard in their communities, but insisted that others were seeking what he described as a free ticket into leadership. In his view, Parliament should be reserved for people who can add value, not simply increase numbers.
“We can't just fill Parliament with people, but rather people who will add value. We only want women of substance, those respected in this country, and above all, the Wanjikus, Anyagos and Naliakas must be given an opportunity to decide if they want to be represented by them,” Barasa said.
He also declared: “We are going to interrogate this Bill and I want to tell the Majority leader that this Bill is dead on arrival.”
Barasa said the wider nomination system also needed reform because, in his view, some politicians were using influence to secure party tickets. He said the Bill would do little to address that problem and would instead benefit a small group of insiders.
Under the proposal, the number of lawmakers would rise, something Barasa said would work against efforts to reduce the wage bill. “We cannot reduce the burden of Kenyans by creating more posts,” he said.
He also questioned the role of nominated male MPs, naming Wilson Sossion and Goddrefry Osotsi as examples. “I also don't see the business of nominated male MPs. Whom do the represent? For example, Wilson Sossion and Goddrefry Osotsi. Where Osotsi comes from, they have their MP Ayub Savula. If you are a man, go and campaign and win a seat,” he said.
Barasa said seats for persons living with disabilities and the youth should be protected, but maintained that the number of women in Parliament has been rising in successive elections. He described that trend as evidence that voters are increasingly recognising women as stronger leaders than men.
The Two-Thirds Bill needs 233 MPs to pass. President Uhuru Kenyatta, Deputy President William Ruto, Raila Odinga of ODM and Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper had all urged lawmakers to support it. The Bill also seeks to limit nomination to Parliament or a county assembly to two terms.
Nyakundi Report notes that the debate over the Bill remained politically charged, with supporters framing it as a constitutional correction and critics like Barasa arguing that the nomination process itself needed deeper reform before any expansion of seats.
