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Kenyan women push for MPs quota Kenyan women push for MPs quota
(about 2 hours later)
Kenyan women have launched a campaign to collect 1m signatures to lobby MPs to reserve 50 seats in parliament for women ahead of polls later this year. Kenyan women have launched a campaign to collect 1m signatures to lobby MPs to reserve 50 seats in parliament for women before elections later this year.
Some 10,000 women attended a rally in the capital, Nairobi, calling for the Affirmative Action Bill to be passed.Some 10,000 women attended a rally in the capital, Nairobi, calling for the Affirmative Action Bill to be passed.
Health Minister Charity Ngliu said that women face bias and financial drawbacks when seeking nomination, but they were ready to take up positions.Health Minister Charity Ngliu said that women face bias and financial drawbacks when seeking nomination, but they were ready to take up positions.
In the current parliament, only 18 out of 224 MPs are women.In the current parliament, only 18 out of 224 MPs are women.
'Good enough'
The launch coincided with a new poll - conducted by Infotrak Research and Consulting, Harris Interactive Global and the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy - that suggests that 51% of Kenyans are ready to elect a woman as president.The launch coincided with a new poll - conducted by Infotrak Research and Consulting, Harris Interactive Global and the Centre for Multi-Party Democracy - that suggests that 51% of Kenyans are ready to elect a woman as president.
(There is) the obvious bias that comes from the communities, and women do not have enough money to mount a successful campaign Health Minister Charity Ngliu Controversial minister
Ms Ngilu is the only woman to have vied for Kenya's presidency in the past, but at the rally she said women faced an uphill struggle in Kenyan politics.Ms Ngilu is the only woman to have vied for Kenya's presidency in the past, but at the rally she said women faced an uphill struggle in Kenyan politics.
"It's very difficult for women to really campaign and win seats, not because they do not qualify, not because they are not good," she said. "It's very difficult for women to really campaign and win seats, not because they do not qualify, not because they are not good," she told the BBC's Network Africa programme.
"(There is) the obvious bias that comes from the communities, and women do not have enough money to mount a successful campaign.""(There is) the obvious bias that comes from the communities, and women do not have enough money to mount a successful campaign."
According to the bill before parliament, female seats would be elected through special ballots among women's interest groups.According to the bill before parliament, female seats would be elected through special ballots among women's interest groups.
Kenyans are going to the polls in December to elect a new president and parliament.Kenyans are going to the polls in December to elect a new president and parliament.
Deep divisions
The same poll shows that if the election were held now, incumbent President Mwai Kibaki - who came to power with a landslide victory in 2002 - would win 42% of the vote.
But he would face a run-off that could sharply divide the country because of a failure to meet a constitutional requirement to get 25% of the votes in at least five provinces.
The BBC's Karen Allen in Nairobi says there are deep divisions within the opposition bloc, known as ODM Kenya, which has still to select its presidential candidate.
If Raila Odinga, whom voters seem to favour, wins the ODM ticket, he could present a serious challenge to President Kibaki, forcing a second round.
Our correspondent says the next few months are likely to see shifting alliances in a political landscape which continues to be tinged with ethnic rivalries.