Homa Bay women leaders urge colleagues to seek elective posts
By Noven.Owiti, November 11, 2021
A group of women leaders in Homa Bay County have kicked off an initiative to inspire female politicians to seek elective positions in next year’s General Election.
Under the umbrella Homa Bay County Women Leaders, the group argued that women are able to provide good leadership, as they better understand societal problems such as hunger, poverty, disease and ignorance.
Nominated MCA Sophie Salim said giving women a chance to lead is a sure way of addressing the challenges.
“Let our colleagues in leadership positions at legislative houses and other departments embrace leadership and offer support to those interested in going for active politics,” Salim said.
She at the same time urged residents to support women leaders, who are already serving in various posts to ascend to power in different political offices.
“We should not fight each other but strive to propel and empower the leaders we already have and other aspiring female politicians,” she said.
Political opportunities
Leaders were speaking during a meeting in the town yesterday.
They stated that they want to seize the political opportunities provided for women, especially with the advent of devolution to shoulder their colleagues to venture in politics and contest various elective seats including the governor position that currently has at least eight male aspirants.
Salim said their campaign will be taken to grassroot. Nominated MCA Lorna Owino and her Arujo Ward counterpart Mary Ojalla Odira and other women serving in different positions also attended the meeting.
They unanimously agreed to back women who have shown interest seeking elective seats in next year’s polls.
County takes pride in having three elected legislators at the National Assembly out of the total eight constituencies.
Three female MPs are Lilian Gogo (Rangwe), Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul) and Millie Odhiambo (Suba North).
In history, women who tried to venture in politics in the region found it hard to compete with men.