Kenyans to pay Sh4bn as gender rule crisis looms

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MPs in the newly refurbished Chambers during the official opening at Parliament Buildings August 7, 2012.   Nation Media Group

By EMMAN OMARI eommari@gmail.com
Posted  Sunday, September 23  2012 at  23:30

IN SUMMARY

• Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) chairman Micah Cheserem sounded the alarm on the potential legal landmines and financial burden waiting after the March 4 General Election.
• If only men are elected, each county will be required to bring in nominated women members to ensure that the one-third gender rule is attained as provided for in the Constitution.
• This will mean an additional 492 members countrywide. This will have an additional cost of Sh221.4 million per month, coming to Sh2.656 billion annually.

It will cost the taxpayer an extra Sh4 billion per year if Parliament fails to enact a law to ensure one third of women are elected to the House and each County Assembly.

Still, if that does not happen, the taxpayer will have to pay an extra Sh20 billion in the five-year term to cater for nominated women MPs in both Houses and the 47 County Assemblies.

Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA) chairman Micah Cheserem sounded the alarm on the potential legal landmines and financial burden waiting after the March 4 General Election.

“If Parliament fails to pursue the election option, you can be sure people will go to courts to stall proceedings in Parliament and County Assemblies on the one-third rule,” he said.

He noted the development budget — money for roads, health and schools — would be adversely affected if extra numbers were added in both Houses and the 47 counties over and above elective positions.

“We have given them (MPs) facts and figures to see the big financial implications to enable them see why they should amend the Constitution,” he said.

The document published by the CRA details the numbers required to attain the one-third rule in each of the 47 County Assemblies plus additional costs in the National Assembly, the Senate and County Assemblies.

Sh5.02 billion per year

It is based on the assumption that MPs in both Houses will earn salaries and allowances of about Sh1 million per month each, while County Assembly representatives will take home Sh300,000 each.

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The 47 counties will elect 1,450 lawmakers countrywide, according to wards demarcated by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

This means that the country will foot Sh435 million per month or Sh5.02 billion per year.

However, if only men are elected, each county will be required to bring in nominated women members to ensure that the one-third gender rule is attained as provided for in the Constitution.

This will mean an additional 492 members countrywide. This will have an additional cost of Sh221.4 million per month, coming to Sh2.656 billion annually.

And at the National Assembly, elections will bring an elected MP from each of 290 constituencies, an additional women’s representatives from each of the 47 counties, plus 12 nominated MPs to represent special interests.

That totals 349 MPs. If the one-third gender threshold is to be met, it means that at least 117 from that number must be women. This is if there will be more elected women than men.

If the number is not met, then the one-third rule will have to be achieved by more nominations. If only men are elected in the 290 constituencies, an additional 70 women MPs must be nominated to add to the 47 women representatives.

The extra cost for additional 105 MPs will be Sh105 million per month, or Sh1.26 million annually.

At the Senate whose membership is 67 — made up of 47 senators from each county, 16 nominated women, two men and women nominated to represent youth and people with disabilities — could end up having a deficit of eight to reach the 23 required for the gender quota.

It means the taxpayer will meet an extra Sh8 million per month or Sh96 million a year. “The cumulative burden will be too big to bear, especially if we have to release funds for development projects,” Mr Cheserem said.

A Bill to amend the Constitution to provide for top-up nominations in case elections fail to provide the one-third gender rule will be tabled in Parliament this week.

Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka said on Sunday the government would not permit any MP to travel outside the country in the coming two days when Parliament is expected to debate and decided on the proposed constitutional amendment to the gender rule.