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Kieni MP, Kanini Kega has expressed his reservations towards the Gender Bill saying it will lead to a bloated wage bill.
He said if passed, the Bill at its current state will affect Kenyans financially since they have to cough more money for MPs’ salaries.
Speaking to Journalists at White rhino hotel on Thursday, Kega explained that the next parliament will have 450 MPs.
He disclosed that he abstained from voting during the Wednesday parliament proceedings when the Bill failed to meet the threshold of 233 votes.
Only 195 members voted for it, with Kega saying that civil society groups had sent threatening messages to MPs.
Speaker Justin Muturi however ordered for a fresh vote on May 5 to allow time for consultation within political parties.
“We shall support it due to the constitutional deadlines. If we fail to pass it then any Kenyan can petition dissolution of the national assembly,” said Kega.
He observed that women will shun competitive politics and lobby for party nominations.
He cited Nyeri County where two women were elected, Esther Murugi (Nyeri Town) and Mary Wambui (Othaya), and asked other counties to emulate Nyeri.
“The elected women MPs representing constituencies will be disadvantaged because we shall have very many women in parliament who did not work hard. Parliament should not be a place of creating jobs for some people and of one gender,” said the MP.
He added that the Bill does not provide procedures for nomination process.
The MP noted that the new constitution is 20 per cent faulty and needs a lot of amendments.
