Nairobi, March 8 -- As the world celebrates the International Women's Day, we need to acknowledge that Kenyan women in critical decision-making positions, both in public and private sectors, have significantly increased, assisted mainly by adoption and evolution of gender-fair governance practices.

Specifically, the minimum "one third" female representation rule in public service has progressively ensured that women empowerment is engrained as a routine auditable practice.

However, in elective representation, we are experiencing slower progress. With about 20 percent women MPs, Kenya unfavourably compares with about 28 percent in the USA, 35 percent in the UK, 32 percent in EU and surprisingly about 60 percent in Rwanda.

It is my opini...