DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala has faulted Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda for concentrating only on women’s issues in her leadership role while forgetting the male gender.

Speaking in Kisia East after accompanying the DCP candidate who was cleared by the IEBC to vie in the Kisia Ward by-election on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, Malala said the Woman Representative should serve all genders since she was elected by both men and women.

He added that once elected as a woman representative, the role is not only to support women but to serve all constituents who voted.

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Malala criticised Muhanda for focusing on empowering a few women and girls while neglecting men and boys, urging her to balance her efforts by also addressing challenges facing the boy child.

“Ukishapata kiti cha woman rep, kazi yako si kusaidia wamama pekee yake; kazi yako ni kudaidia watu ambao walikupigia kura. Sisi tulipigia mama Elsie kura, lakini yeye anachagua wamama na wasichana wachache ambao anasaidia; amesahau wale wamama wenye wana shida kabisa; amesahau wanaume. Elsie, you are not elected with women alone; you are also elected with men and boys. As you empower the girl child, also empower the boy child,” Malala stated.

Khalwale’s view on the same

Earlier on, in a separate encounter, his county senator, Boni Khalwale, had faulted his female nominated counterparts for repeatedly framing their role in Parliament as being solely to represent women.

During a Senate sitting on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, convened to approve recently nominated Senator Consolata Wabwire to serve in select committees, Khalwale criticised what he described as a recurring habit among some nominated female senators of focusing their contributions narrowly on gender-related matters.

“The agenda day in, day out. Agenda one. Agenda two is on women. Who told you you came here to represent women?” Khalwale stated.

He argued that the responsibility of a senator is to defend the Constitution of Kenya and to address the diverse issues affecting citizens, not to restrict representation to women alone.

Khalwale pointed out that several women senators already handle broader national matters effectively, adding that nominated members should follow that example.