Female political aspirants in Lamu to get special State protection
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi speaks during the devolution conference in Makueni County last month. He recently instructed county commissioners and local administrators to prioritize security of female political candidates, across the country, in the forthcoming election.
What you need to know:
- State will give special protection to female political aspirants in Lamu County as they campaign for the 2022 General Election.
- Areas under close watch over possibility of political related violence include Mkomani, Mbwajumwali, Tchundwa, Faza and Kizingitini.
The government will give special protection to female political aspirants in Lamu County as they campaign for the 2022 General Election.
The State is mapping out hotspot areas in the county as it prepares for the poll.
This is in adherence to a recent announcement by Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i. He instructed county commissioners and grassroots administrators to prioritize the security of women political candidates in the forthcoming election, across the country.
“We want to have a scenario where our women seek electoral seats freely and without any fear of harassment or intimidation by either their male counterparts or other fellow women opponents and supporters as a whole,” said Lamu County Commissioner Irungu Macharia.
Political positions
Areas under close watch over possibility of political related violence include Mkomani, Mbwajumwali, Tchundwa, Faza and Kizingitini.
In Lamu, most women have been shying away from contesting for bigger political positions due to a male chauvinistic society that has existed in the region for decades.
Currently, only Umra Omar of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has declared her interest in vying for governor position.
Ms Omar is the first female candidate to declare interest in the top county seat.
In Lamu East, Lamu Woman Representative Ruweida Obbo has also declared her interest in contesting for the Lamu East Constituency parliamentary seat.
Some women aspirants who talked to nation.africa lauded the State’s move to offer protection for female aspirants in the 2022 election.
Special security
Dama Luwali who is vying for the woman representative position says the move will enable them to campaign in all areas within the county, including those considered to be their opponents’ strongholds.
“Some politicians claim some places are theirs to an extent of inciting their supporters to disrupt their opponents’ meetings. If we are provided with special security protection, I believe such incidents won’t happen,” said Ms Luwali.
