The Two-Third Gender Majority Representation Principle: Politics of Gender and the “Where Next?” Stretching the length of time seems like a very attractive idea for Kenyan legislators today. About 21 weeks to an August 2015 legislative deadline, consensus inside and out of Parliament has not been reached on a formula to ensure equitable gender representation in subsequent parliaments in line with Article 27(8) of the Constitution. Representatives of various lobby groups attended and presented their various formulae and strategies toward gender-equitable representation in national parliament at the Heinrich Boell Stiftung’s Gender Forum on 26th March 2015
Female Genital Mutilation(FGM): A Fight of Wills The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that approximately 125 million girls and women alive today had been subjected to Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in 29 countries, mainly in Africa and the Middle East where FGM is prevalent. On the 26th of February 2015, Heinrich Boell Foundation’s Nairobi office once again convened the monthly Gender Forum at the Nairobi Safari Club, with the agenda of addressing FGM in Kenya. In a highly emotional ambience, people from different backgrounds in Kenya came together to discuss FGM in Kenya and what can be done to fight the vice.
Two-Thirds Gender Rule in Kenya's National Assembly and the Senate Two Thirds Gender Rule in the National Assembly and the Senate To fully realize the two thirds gender rule in the national Assembly and the Senate, Kenyans will have to agree to a minimum constitutional amendment. This was the message that was given at the monthly Gender Forum on November 27.
Women’s Role in Governance at County Level “Women must not to shy away from aiming for elective political seats”, urged the guest speaker, the former nominated MP, Sophia Abdi Nur. In 1997, Ms. Abdi Nur became the first woman in Kenya's North Eastern Province to vie for a political seat when she ran for parliament representing Ijara district. She lost the race but didn't give up. She was nominated in 2008 and became the first woman member of parliament from her region
Critical Analysis of Kisumu County Budget: From Gender Responsive to Gender Transformative Majority of Kisumu County's population lives in the grip of a patriarchal structure where gender roles are ascribed. The County’s policy and development blueprints as well as County budget make useful references to gauge the prioritization and analysis of gendered needs of the Couny residents.
Unsafe Abortion: Is Kenya Brave Enough to Take A Stand? Will enforcement of abortion criminalization translate to a decrease in incidence of incomplete, unsafe termination or will it merely increase the numbers of women that die silently? What is the economic loss of all this?
Is the Vision for Equality in Taita Taveta County a Mirage? How is gender equality understood at the County level, and how can the County’s policy and development blueprints and sectoral budget be used to prioritise and analyse gendered needs?
Toiling Without Pay Women globally contribute a great deal of their time performing unpaid domestic and care oriented work. In Kenya, there is no reflection for such work in the economic analyses or national statistics.
Slow gains recorded in fight against sexual violence Sexual and Gender based violence in Kenya: Experts agree that personal involvement is needed to curb the vice that is on the rise.
Isiolo women call for inclusion in County Budgeting The Gender Forum travelled to the ethnically cosmopolitan town of Isiolo to contribute a platform for dialogue on women’s participation in decision making in Isiolo County, with focus on the budgeting process.
