Kenya

NAIROBI, Jan 25 2013 (IPS) - Few women in Kenya harbour illusions of entering politics.

Women representatives from political parties and civil society in Kenya claim that women should constitute one-third of the committees in the Tenth Parliament to negotiate minimum constitutional reforms.

Four women in Kenya were appointed to the task force on transition from analogue to digital broadcasting. The Minister of Information and Communications said this was in line with the Government's decision to reserve 30 per cent of public appointments to women.

Women play peripheral roles in the local parties and Parliament in Kenya. Whereas the Political Parties Bill to be debated by MPs is not making any steps to encourage the participation of women in the national politics.

More than 300 women aspirants are expected to gather in Nairobi on Saturday to plan how to get to the august House.This is a departure from previous general elections where women have come into the race as underdogs.

President Mwai Kibaki has challenged women to increase their participation in the formal business sector by taking advantage of a Sh5 billion Women Investment Fund he launched Monday.

Any woman who has been through Kenya's healthcare system will not be at all surprised by the findings of a recent report that shows how women's human rights are routinely violated by doctors, nurses and other health professionals.

The Cabinet yesterday targeted women's votes by proposing to create 50 special seats for them in a new 300-member House.The seats which are part of the 90 new ones to be created ahead of the December General Election, will be reserved for nominated women MPs.

Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister, Ms Martha Karua, has defended her proposal to set aside 50 seats for women in Parliament. Karua said more women should be nominated as the current Parliament had only two per cent women representation.