A breakfast meeting organized by the Coalition of Women Against Violence Center for Rights Aducation and Awareness (CREAW) and Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) in conjunction with other women organizations was held on 23^rd February 2010 at the Fairmont Hotel to discuss the memorandum by women on the Parliamentary Select Committee (PSC) draft constitution.

The newly appointed Executive director of FIDA-Kenya, Ms. Grace Maingi took the participants through the memorandum that was presented to the minister so as to highlight the issues that the women had highlighted in the memorandum.

During the open session there were presentations made by Hon Martha Karua and Hon Sophia Noor on the challenges they had faced as they advocated for the rights of women within the parliamentary select committee. The female parliamentarians were in consensus with the memorandum presented, but explained that the discussion on women’s issues in the draft constitution should be taken from the national level to the grassroots so as to include all women in the country.

The participants agreed that they would give the Gender Minister the memorandum so that she could present it to the Committee of Experts before they return the draft to the parliamentary select committee.

In attendance were Hon Rachael Shebesh, Hon Martha Karua, Hon Sophia Noor, Hon Margaret Kamar, Hon Linah Jebii Kilimo, Hon Peris Chepchumba among others. Women organizations represented were UNIFEM, FEMNET, KEWOPA, ACWICT, CREAW –Kenya, Coalition of Violence among Women, Mama na Dada Africa, the Gender Commission among others.

Click here to Download a copy of the Memorandum