Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohammed has said the gender docket should be allocated to a man, arguing that this would better ensure gender inclusivity.
Speaking during National Assembly proceedings on Wednesday, the lawmaker stated that men are better positioned to champion women’s interests and help streamline gender equality.
“If you asked me, the Minister for Gender should be a man because gender cuts across. I think a man would serve the interests of women better than women themselves. A man would ensure gender parity is mainstreamed in this country,” he said.
The Minority Leader further stated that if appointed to the role, he would push for full implementation of the two-thirds gender rule and advocate strongly for women’s rights.
“If today I were made Minister for Gender, I would ensure no appointment happens in this country that does not comply with the two-thirds gender rule,” he said, adding that men could handle gender matters with the seriousness they deserve.
His remarks come two days after the National Assembly Committee on Appointments, chaired by Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, conducted approval hearings for President William Ruto’s Gender Cabinet Secretary nominee, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo.
Cheptumo was nominated to serve in the Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage docket, which has lacked a substantive officeholder since President Ruto dismissed his entire Cabinet last year.
The committee had earlier rejected the nomination of Soi Lang’at as Gender CS in a report tabled in Parliament by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah.
Article 27(8) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, stipulates that the State shall take steps to ensure that not more than two-thirds of members in elective and appointive bodies are of the same gender.
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