Civil Society Organizations in Nakuru County have strongly welcomed the move taken by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on strict adherence of the Two-Third Gender Rule by political parties in the 2022 General Elections.
The organizations argued that the move is a clear indication that there will be candidates from both gender well represented in the elections next year.
Led by Midrift Human Rights Network Chief Executive Officer Joseph Omondi, the CSOs observed that this has been a challenge in the country.
According to Omondi, political parties have been failing to meet the rule where parties choose to only nominate men to vie for elective posts, thus depriving women of their rights to also take part in elections.
This, he added, is the reason for the dominance in the Senate, National Assembly as well as the County Assemblies.
However, with the IEBC through Chair Wafula Chebukati assuring that the commission will not approve nomination lists from parties that choose not to comply with the Two-Thirds Gender Rule, Omondi said it is clear that the challenge will be a thing of the past.
“IEBC has good intentions because we are aware there has been a big challenge in this country when it comes to gender rule implementation” said Omondi.
Already Midrift HURINET is in the process of running a program on political education in the country.
Omondi revealed that the program targets political parties, IEBC, Office of Director of Public Prosecution, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission.
He added that such bodies have continued to be incapacitated hence hindering services such as justice.
“We have a program about political education and we shall be reaching out to several actors and stakeholders ahead of the 2022 general elections” he said.
On July 7, IEBC announced that the 2022 General Election will take place on August 9, 2022 as it outlined financing guidelines for stakeholders.
In a statement, Chairman Wafula Chebukati said the campaign financing act 2013 that was suspended for the 2017 elections will be in force for the purposes of the 2022 elections.
The act requires all political parties and candidates contesting in the 2022 election to open campaign financing accounts at least two months before the elections.