Flora Kiprop joins crowded race for Nakuru Woman Rep seat

Flora Kiprop Rono

Ms Flora Kiprop Rono who has declared her interest to vie for the Nakuru Woman Rep seat in the August polls.  


Photo credit: Francis Mureithi | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • The race for the Nakuru Woman Representative position continues to attract more candidates after businesswoman Flora Kiprop Rono threw her hat in the ring.
  • The entry of Ms Rono, a church elder at the Christ is the Answer Ministries in Nakuru County is expected to give her opponents a big headache as the church commands a huge following in the county.

The race for the Nakuru Woman Representative position continues to attract more candidates after businesswoman Flora Kiprop Rono threw her hat in the ring.

Ms Rono, who hails from Solai Ward in Rongai constituency, said she will vie for the seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket.

"After listening to the people, the only vehicle that is hitting the ground hard and is preferred by many residents is UDA and I have heeded their call," said Ms Rono.

The entry of Ms Rono, a church elder at the Christ is the Answer Ministries in Nakuru County is expected to give her opponents a big headache as the church commands a huge following in the county. Ms Rono comes from a rich political background.

Maendeleo ya Wanawake

Her grandfather Morogo Chebet was a paramount chief in the larger Baringo County while her father John Kiprop Morogo was a member of the Legislative Council. Her two uncles Eric Morogo and William Morogo, were MPs for Rongai and Baringo South constituencies. Her mother Rosa Terigi Kiprop was the chairperson of Maendeleo ya Wanawake.

"The 2022 elections could be the defining moment for women leadership in Nakuru County and my push for this seat is to transform the women of Nakuru, youth and the disabled who I feel have been given a raw deal," said Ms Rono

She added: "Nakuru Woman Rep seat has been reduced into a ceremonial seat with little development achievements on the ground and many people have not felt its impact. I want the office to be felt in all the 11 Nakuru sub-counties.”

She said it was sad that 10 years after the devolution, women, youth and disabled in Nakuru County were still struggling with poverty.  

Insurance sector

"There is a need to address the plight of these vulnerable groups through pragmatic leadership which I hope to bring if I'm elected as the third woman rep in Nakuru County," said Ms Rono who is also a businesswoman in the insurance sector and a graduate of Pan Africa Christian University.  

She urged other women to vie for various elective positions during the August polls. 

"I'm ready to serve the residents of Nakuru, I know politics is not a church, it's a journey for the bold and I believe I'm equal to the task," she said.

She says her inspiration comes from the late Prof Wangari Maathai who was the first black African woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 and Chief Justice Martha Koome who is the first female Chief Justice in Kenya.

"I admire these two inspiring and influential women who made history and shaped our thinking and were responsible for so many women's firsts. I'm looking forward to making a mark as a woman rep in Nakuru and joining their league," said Ms Rono.

Peaceful elections

"I'm banking on the assurance of our party leader Deputy President William Ruto that the party primaries will be free and fair. If we mess at the primaries we will not get good leaders to face our opponents in the General Election," said Ms Rono.

She, however, promised to stick with the party whatever the outcome of the primaries.

"I will support whoever will win. I will be loyal to the party and I won’t decamp from UDA."

She urged all political aspirants across the political divide to preach peace during their campaigns to ensure peaceful elections.

Ms Eunice Lelei, Ms Rehema Njeri, Ms Sally Gachia and Ms Saida Musa have also declared their interest to unseat the incumbent Liza Chelule.