Suba North MP John Mbadi has vouched for the Building Bridges Initiative as the only solution to the elusive gender bill which has now put the lawmakers’ jobs at stake following Chief Justice David Maraga’s advisory to dissolve parliament for failing to pass the legislation.
Mbadi argued it would be impossible for parliament to enact and pass such a bill unless a process to change the constitution like the one being spearheaded by proponents the BBI is undertaken.
Speaking in parliament on Tuesday, September 23, during a session convened to discuss the impact of the CJ’s advisory, the ODM chairman urged his colleagues and Kenyans at large to support the BBI process so that such contentious issues could be resolved.
“The only route to solving this issue (two-third gender bill) is through the BBI, we will talk all the language but the only route is the BBI. We must go back to the people of Kenya because the drafter of this constitution did not address themselves on this issue properly, it is ambiguous,” argued Mbadi.
The National Assembly minority leader said even if parliament was to be dissolved as advised by Maraga, more men would still be re-elected to parliament.
“I dare say, If this parliament is dissolved, the next election we will bring more men than it is today,” he said.
The vocal Suba North MP also tore into women legislators for failing to show up during debate to pass the gender bill.
“The reason why this thing has been collapsing is because of the conduct of our female colleagues. because when you talk about gender issues they are shouting.
“We have been religiously supporting this gender bill but have not been having a full house of female MPs let the truth be told, they are the ones who are failing us. I have never failed to vote for this amendment,” said the MP.
Since 2013, the two-thirds gender bill has collapsed four times on the floor of the House due to lack of quorum.
