Former Chief Justice David Maraga has pledged to ensure that women occupy half of all government leadership positions should he win the presidency.
Speaking on Wednesday, the presidential aspirant said his administration would prioritize gender equality to promote balance and efficiency in public service delivery.
“Men excel in certain areas, and women in others. Bringing them together creates a balanced and effective government,” Maraga stated.
He explained that his plan would also fulfill the Constitutional requirement that no more than two-thirds of positions in public institutions be occupied by one gender.
Recalling his earlier recommendation to dissolve Parliament for failing to implement this constitutional provision, Maraga said he faced strong political backlash but stood by his decision.
“When we adopted the new Constitution, we introduced reforms that were meant to be implemented immediately. One of them was gender balance. There was no reason Parliament could not pass the law, so I recommended its dissolution,” he added.
Maraga revealed that his political party has already adopted a co-leadership model, ensuring that every key position is shared equally between a man and a woman.
“If there’s a chairperson, there will also be a female co-chair. The same applies to the secretary-general and other senior positions. This is how we will ensure fair representation,” he said.
The former Chief Justice also emphasized that women have consistently shown strong performance in health, education, and community leadership, adding that empowering them would lead to more responsive governance.
Maraga’s promise mirrors similar commitments made by other leaders, including President William Ruto, who pledged in 2022 to appoint a cabinet composed of 50% women.
However, his first cabinet featured only seven women out of 22 members, and subsequent reshuffles have yet to achieve full gender parity.