Some people have recently argued that the woman representative position should be removed, claiming it adds little value to lawmaking and only increases the government wage bill. They believe the seat is expensive for taxpayers without bringing real returns. However, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba strongly disagrees.
Also Read
Kenya to Name and Shame Fraudulent Health Facilities on June 14 – CS Duale Warns
She says the woman rep seat, created by the 2010 Constitution along with the governor and senator roles, is crucial in helping women enter politics. There are 47 woman reps across Kenya, each elected to represent their county in the National Assembly.
Wamuchomba, who was the second woman rep for Kiambu County before becoming an MP, says the seat gave her the chance to grow politically when she didn’t have the resources or experience to compete directly with male candidates. She believes that many successful female leaders, including MPs and governors, began their careers through this position.
While she agrees that the wrong people are sometimes elected to the seat, she insists the solution is not scrapping it but choosing leaders who will use the position well.
Economically, removing the seat may seem like a way to reduce spending, but Wamuchomba warns that doing so could backfire. It would limit opportunities for women to rise in politics, reducing diversity in leadership and weakening long-term democratic development. She says voters should focus on electing capable women who bring value, not just popular figures.
The woman rep seat was introduced to help meet the two-thirds gender rule and ensure more women have a voice in Parliament. Despite this, the country still struggles to reach gender balance because more male politicians are elected overall. Scrapping the woman rep seat could make this gap even worse and slow down progress in building inclusive governance.
