Former Chief Justice David Maraga has pledged that if elected, half of his government will be composed of women.
In a video seen by Radio Generation, Maraga insisted that gender balance is not just a constitutional requirement but also a key driver of effective leadership.
He emphasized that his administration would model equality and shared responsibility across all levels of governance.
The CJ Emeritus noted that empowering women to serve alongside men would strengthen institutions and ensure that decisions reflect the needs and perspectives of all citizens.
“Women excel this way and men excel that way, and when you put them together, you have a balanced government,” Maraga said.
“The 2010 Constitution had things that needed to be implemented quickly, and one of those was that not more than two-thirds of any gender should be in any institution.”
Maraga lamented that more than a decade after the Constitution was enacted, the two-thirds gender rule remains largely unfulfilled in both public and political institutions.
He said his political movement had already begun implementing gender parity within its leadership structures, setting an example for others to follow.
“In our party, we have started that if it is chairpersons, there’s a man and a woman; if it’s the secretary general, there is co-leadership — and we don’t want it to end at the party,” he said.
Maraga added that the same principle would guide appointments in his government if he assumes power, stressing that women would be equally represented in cabinet and other senior positions.
“My government will be like that so that we give ladies a chance,” he affirmed.
“In matters of health and education, and when you have many women in Parliament, we will not play with that issue.”
He underscored that women bring unique strengths, especially in sectors that directly affect families and communities, such as healthcare, education, and social welfare.
According to him, inclusivity is not merely about meeting quotas but about ensuring that leadership reflects Kenya’s diversity and harnesses the full potential of its people.
Maraga’s remarks come amid growing calls from gender rights advocates for the government and political parties to comply with the constitutional gender rule.
Despite several court rulings and advisory opinions from the judiciary, the two-thirds principle has yet to be fully implemented in Parliament and county assemblies.
The two-thirds gender rule in Kenya is a constitutional principle aimed at ensuring gender balance in public offices and elective positions.
The rule seeks to promote gender equality and representation in leadership and decision-making positions, particularly to address the historical underrepresentation of women in politics and governance.
