Eighteen women from various political parties have been nominated to the Kitui County Assembly from different political parties.

The incoming Kitui assembly had to get a high number of nominations for women so as to get to one-third of female leadership after only one woman managed to win in the August 9 general election.

Among the nominated ladies is a popular radio presenter Jacquelyne Kalenga who has been nominated by Wiper Democratic Movement Party.

Kalenga, who has grown from grass to grace, started as a reporter for a Kamba radio station Musyi FM which is under Royal Media Services.

Kalenga started her journey way back in 2009 as a reporter immediately after she had finished her college studies.

“I started as a reporter and was posted to Mombasa where I used to report for Musyi FM. Later, I was transferred to Taita Taveta to report for Citizen Radio,” Kalenga said.

Kalenga said her motivation to go for a political post was from the experience she had on the ground.

“I have faced so many challenges while on radio for speaking on issues affecting the people and calling out to Kamba community to unite and support my party leader Kalonzo Musyoka,” Kalenga said.

Nominated MCAs

The last Kitui assembly had 12 nominated women and five female elected Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).

On the gender top-up, Wiper has nominated eight women, NARC (4), UDA (2), CCU (1), and Jubilee Party (1).