Women seek to vie for 10 governor positions

A campaign to field at least 10 women candidates for governor positions in the 2017 General Election has been launched.

The nine female deputy governors in the country will hold meetings with women in various regions over the matter.

Kenya Network of Women Governors Chairperson Ruth Odinga said the campaign, which is in its first leg in Eldoret, is meant to ensure women understand their role in leadership.

“Through the campaign, we are seeking to have at least 10 women vying for governor positions in the next poll,” said Ms Odinga during a seminar in Eldoret. The meeting was held on Monday and Tuesday.

Women members of county assemblies are also involved in the drive.

“We want women to have more say at various levels of leadership,” she said.

GENDER RULE

Ms Odinga, who is also the Kisumu deputy governor, said the nine women who are currently second in command in counties are using their positions to help bring equity in the country’s leadership.

“As leaders lucky to be in regional government leadership, our positions should count. This led us to launch this programme.”

Kericho Deputy Governor Susan Kikwai said the programme also seeks to help the country meet the two-thirds gender rule. She added that women in leadership would contribute to transparency, accountability and good governance in counties.

Former Eldoret East MP Margaret Kamar was the only women who vied for the governorship in the last election. She was defeated by Mr Jackson Mandago in Uasin Gishu County.

Kwale Deputy Governor Fatuma Achani said Prof Kamar’s example was worth emulating.

Deputy governors Dorothy Nditi (Embu) and Hazel Ezabel (Mombasa) were also present. The other women deputy governors are Ms Evalyn Chepkirui (Narok), Ms Mary Kibuka (Taita-Taveta), Ms Penina Malonza (Kitui) and Ms Adeline Mwau (Makueni).

The nine called on MPs to fast-track the approval of laws on implementing the two-thirds gender rule.