Nairobi, March 27 -- At the heart of giving life to the two-thirds gender provision in Kenyan elections are political parties.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the multi-sector working group on the realisation of the principle provided for in Article 27(8) of the Constitution ended up with a recommendation that puts political parties at the centre of electing more women members of the National Assembly, senators, governors and members of the county assemblies.

Also read: Gender rule still elusive at top echelons of power

It recommended an amendment to the Elections Act to compel each political party to present not just a list of candidates for parliamentary and county elections but one that adheres to the guideline that neither me...