County Women Representatives (CWRs) play a crucial role in legislation, representation, and oversight at the National Assembly. Their position was created by Article 97(1)(b) of the Kenyan Constitution as part of the two-thirds gender rule, which aims to increase women’s representation in government.
Key Roles of County Women Representatives
1️⃣ Legislation
✔ Participate in lawmaking by sponsoring and debating bills, motions, and amendments.
✔ Advocate for laws that promote gender equality, women’s rights, and social development.
✔ Push for policies that benefit marginalized and special interest groups.
2️⃣ Representation
✔ Represent the interests of women, children, and marginalized groups at the National Assembly.
✔ Engage citizens and stakeholders in public forums and policy discussions.
✔ Raise issues affecting women at both the county and national levels.
3️⃣ Oversight
✔ Monitor the Executive’s use of public resources and ensure accountability in government spending.
✔ Oversee the implementation of gender-based policies and programs.
✔ Sit on parliamentary committees that handle issues related to gender, education, health, and social services.
What County Women Representatives Should NOT Do
🚫 Provide or donate sanitary towels – This is the responsibility of the Ministry of Education and county governments.
🚫 Drill boreholes – Infrastructure projects fall under the Executive’s role.
🚫 Manage public funds – They do not administer the Affirmative Action Social Development Fund (AASDF), as their role is oversight, not implementation.
🔹 Why? The separation of powers doctrine prevents legislators from executing projects directly, as it would create a conflict of interest.
How to Measure Their Performance
✔ Check their contributions in parliamentary debates (Hansard Records).
✔ Review the bills and motions they have sponsored.
✔ Assess their engagement in parliamentary committees.
✔ Websites like Mzalendo.com track MP performance in Kenya.
Can a Man Contest for County Women Representative?
❌ NO. The position is exclusively for women as part of affirmative action to promote gender equality.
Conclusion
County Women Representatives amplify the voices of women and marginalized groups in Parliament. They shape policies, push for gender-responsive legislation, and oversee government programs to ensure fair representation.
