With the deadline to comply with the two-thirds gender principle for political parties drawing closer, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission is looking at disqualifying some 43 parties that are still yet to observe the same in their nomination lists.

The electoral body has asked political parties to ensure that they comply with the provisions of the Constitution that demand gender parity in elective posts, directing that one gender should not make up more than two-thirds of any elective office.

 IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati in a press release shared on Thursday, May 5 stated that 48 political parties that submitted lists of nominated candidates for the Senate and 38 others that submitted lists of nominated candidates for the National Assembly were compliant with the two-thirds gender principle.

The other non-compliant parties risk being blocked from the August 9 polls, following an order by the high court requiring IEBC to reject any nomination lists for members of the National Assembly and Senate that did not comply with the two-third gender principle.

Some of the political giants facing disqualification are the Orange Democratic Movement(ODM led by Raila Odinga, the United Democratic Alliance(UDA) led by Deputy President William Ruto, Ford Kenya led by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, KANU led by Baringo Senator Gideon Moi, Wiper Party led by Kalonzo Musyoka among others.

The parties have been given till midnight on Monday, May 9 to revise and re-submit their lists to the Commission lest they be disqualified.

Parties that are in the clear include Kanu led by Martha Karua which has fielded women candidates in all elective positions, the majority of whom are MCAs.

“We are happy to report that as a party, we have achieved the two-thirds gender principle in the list of aspirants submitted to the IEBC," Edwin Kivuvani, chair of the party's National Elections Board stated.

The Usawa Kwa Wote party led by Murangá Governor Mwangi has also complied with the principle.

This will be the first time the two-third gender rule since its formulation twelve years ago will be observed in its entirety without interference by the judicial system or the state.