The meeting, which had drawn senior political figures and lawmakers, was meant to discuss key national issues including the implementation of recommendations from the National Dialogue Committee Report (NADCO).
However, proceedings briefly stalled when Mbarire raised concerns about the long-standing debate surrounding the two-thirds gender rule.
As President Ruto addressed the gathering, the Embu governor stood up and interrupted his speech, insisting that the matter of gender representation had not been adequately addressed.
She argued that despite years of discussion, the constitutional requirement on gender balance in elective and appointive positions remains largely unimplemented.
Mbarire’s intervention created a tense moment in the room as delegates watched the rare public exchange between the president and a senior member of his own political camp.
The governor maintained that the issue could not continue to be postponed, emphasizing that women leaders had waited long enough for meaningful progress on the two-thirds gender principle.
The interruption forced the president to briefly pause his speech as the issue was raised before the meeting continued.
While the moment appeared confrontational, it also highlighted the growing pressure from some leaders pushing for concrete steps toward implementing the constitutional provision.
The two-thirds gender rule has remained one of the most debated governance issues in Kenya since the adoption of the 2010 Constitution.
Several attempts to pass legislation to enforce the rule have failed in Parliament over the years.