Gender commission faults President Kenyatta's media team

Gender and Equality Commission chairperson Winfred Lichuma. The commission has faulted the composition of President Kenyatta's media team saying it was biased against women July 16, 2013. FILE 

By JEREMIAH KIPLANG’AT jkiplangat@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Tuesday, July 16  2013 at  18:04

The Gender Commission has faulted the composition of President Kenyatta's media team saying it was biased against women.

On Friday, President Kenyatta appointed six members to the new Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU)but the Gender and Equality Commission now wants it reconstituted to include at least one woman.

The commission chairperson Winfred Lichuma said the appointments went against the constitutional provision requiring women and persons with disabilities to serve in public office.

“The PSCU as currently constituted runs afoul of the two thirds gender principle. We wish to remind the government that failure to include women, persons with disabilities and youth in such an important public office offends the constitution and further amplifies the notion that the government is not keen to respecting and promoting gender equality and freedom from discrimination,” Ms Lichuma said in a statement Tuesday.

The PSCU will replace the Presidential Press Service it will have an extended mandate covering both the President and the First Lady plus researching on policy, communication of government policy, digitisation of government communications and branding State events and functions.

Presidential Strategic Communications Unit (PSCU) Directors from left: James Kinyua (Events and Branding), Edward Irungu (Press), Munyori Buku (External Communications and Media ), Dennis Itumbi (Digital, New Media and Diaspora) and Eric Ngeno (Speech Writing and Research). PSCU

Former Commonwealth spokesman Manoah Esipisu was appointed the first holder of the new office and five directors will work under him in pushing for the realisation of the unit’s objectives. 

Eric Ng’eno, a lawyer, will be the Director Speech Writing and Research. Edward Irungu, formerly of the PPS, will head the Press department.

Munyori Buku (External Communications and Media), James Kinyua (Events and Branding) and Dennis Itumbi in charge of Digital, New Media and Diaspora affairs are the other directors.

Ms Lichuma said there were many women with similar qualifications and competencies who would effectively discharge the duties of the PSCU. 

“We have no doubt the five men are fully competent and qualified. It is not clear why the list is not gender balanced. We are aware that we have female competent strategic communicators that would have been considered part of this team,” she said.

The commission asked the government to exempt further taxes on sanitary towels saying doing so will make them hardly accessible to women in marginalised areas.

“It will be the most unfortunate and insensitive tax measure the government will have ever pursued. This will greatly affect the dignity of the majority poor women and girls and further aggravate the situation in marginalised areas,” said Ms Lichuma.