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Jeremiah Kiplang’at

Buoyed by the election of three female governors in the last General Election, at least 20 women have thrown their hats into the ring to wrestle the powerful seats from their male counterparts.

Several others have also declared their interest to seek senatorial seats in the August polls in moves which appear calculated to bolster the number of women holding elective positions in the country.

The increasing number of women seeking the governor position appears to build on the successes of Narc leader Charity Ngilu (Kitui), Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga) and the late Joyce Laboso (Bomet) who beat all odds to clinch the coveted seats in the 2017 General Election.

The trio’s victory, which came as a surprise given that no woman had won the seat in the 2013 election, appears to have emboldened the womenfolk to take on their male counterparts come the August election.

Three other women broke the glass ceiling by clinching senatorial seats in the 2017 election; Susan Kihika (Nakuru) Margaret Kamar (Uasin Gishu) and Fatuma Adan Dullo (Isiolo).

According to Olive Gachara, the programme director at the Mechanisms to Promote the Advancement of Women lobby, females are becoming bolder and more inspired to challenge men for the governor’s seat.

She said the election of the three governors in the last election had encouraged more to vie for the powerful seat.

She said the political space might still not be adequately receptive to women leaders, saying it was the female aspirants who had challenged themselves to run for the seats.

“The number of aspirants has gone up but the challenge will be in the nominations.

You might have many women aspirants who might face hurdles in the nominations.

It is upon parties to ensure women win the primaries. We should actually have a two-thirds gender rule in the nominations,” Gachara said.

She, however, said women candidates still faced other serious challenges including financial constraints, sexual harassment and cyber bullying which they needed protection against.

With eight months to this year’s election, dozens of women, comprising seasoned politicians and newcomers, have declared interest in running the counties with their eyes firmly set on the corner office.

The women hopefuls have been activating their feelers across their respective counties, many choosing to showcase their abilities instead of flashing the gender card, a weak point their male challengers have often exploited in the past.

Former Salaries and Remuneration Commission chairperson Sarah Serem has declared her interest in the Uasin Gishu county governorship, becoming the latest entrant in the battle to succeed retiring incumbent Jackson Mandago.

Quit civil service

She joins Vescah Kangogo who has been criss-crossing the county meeting residents as she prepares her bid.

Kangogo, currently serving as the CEC in charge of Devolution in Nairobi county, was the first female aspirant to join a group of men eyeing the seat.

Former Eldoret South MP Peris Simam has also declared her interest in the seat.

Serem, who is Kenya’s ambassador to China, and Kangogo, are expected to formally begin their battle for the seat next month when they will quit civil service as required by the law.

Deputy President William Ruto hails from the county and the women candidates are looking at him to ensure they enjoy a fair playing field as the other male aspirants who have also declared their candidature.  

In Narok, Woman Representative Soipan Tuya has also thrown her hat in the ring, promising extensive development across the county if elected.

She is serving her second term and believes she has gained adequate leadership experience the last 10 years to run the county. 

Yesterday, Tuya said she had interacted with Narok constituents who had encouraged her to vie for the seat to take over from Governor Samuel Tunai who is leaving after serving two terms.

“The people of Narok are ready for women leaders. Those who are still opposed to women are after selfish interests, they are opposing women for political expediency,” Tuya told People Daily.

She urged women to step out and vie for various positions, adding that the political space was receptive for the different leadership styles they offer.

“I have not seen any rough or aggressive actions directed at me. I would have easily clinched the woman representative seat for the third time but I decided to shift to the governor’s position to show women that they can run for these posts as well,” added Tuya, whose manifesto focuses on improving health services, expanding water provision and intensifying early education.

She also plans to launch mentorship programmes for boys and girls in a bid to keep them safe from retrogressive cultural practices. 

 Yesterday, Nairobi Governor Anne Kananu declared she would seek to defend her seat in August in which she will contest against former Starehe MP and Housing Assistant Minister, Bishop Martgaret Wanjiru . 

While declaring her bid on New Year’s Day, Kananu urged women to come out in their numbers to contest various elective positions in the next General Election.  

“I want to tell my critics that I am here to stay and let them prepare to meet me in the political field, we battle it out among ourselves because what we will be seeking to do is for the good of Nairobians,” Kananu said.

In Homa Bay, Woman Rep Gladys Wanga is among those seeking the county governor’s seat. She has been actively involved in activities geared towards promoting her candidature in a race, that has attracted bigwigs such as former Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero.

Causing jitters

Wanga is banking on her experience having served for two terms. Last year, she was elected the chairperson of the National Assembly Finance Committee, an achievement that has elevated her political stature.

“There is this notion that women politicians have godfathers and people have sexualised it. They think you must have a boyfriend (to win),” Wanga said during an interview with a local television station.

In Taita Taveta, Patience Nyange, a media personality, has declared her candidature for the seat currently occupied by Governor Granton Samboja.

In Machakos, County Speaker Florence Mwangangi is sharpening her tools for a bid to replace Dr Alfred Mutua who is retiring.

She is joining fellow female contestant Wavinya Ndeti, the Transport Chief Administrative Secretary, as they seek to topple a field full of men led by UDA national chairman Johnstone Muthama. Wavinya lost to Mutua in 2017.

In Meru, Woman Rep Mwangaza Kawira is giving a respectable group of men, who include incumbent Kiraitu Murungi, a run for their money as she seeks to become the first female governor of the county.

The battle for the seat has caused jitters in the Kiraitu camp forcing him (Kiraitu) to obtain court orders stopping Kawira from making defamatory claims against him.

Kawira has, however, promised to continue exposing alleged ills in the county as she seeks to topple the incumbent.

In Kiambu, ICT guru Mwende Gatabaki has presented herself for election in the populous county. 

In Kisii, Woman Representative Janet Ong’era has declared interest in the county’s top seat as are her counterparts Florence Mutua (Busia), Wangui Ngirici (Kirinyaga) and Pamela Odhiambo (Migori).

Prominent female MPs who are looking to upgrade to the governor’s position include Aisha Jumwa (Kilifi) and Peris Tobiko (Kajiado).

The new faces for the governor’s seat join the more familiar aspirants such as Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika who is keen to unseat Lee Kinyanjui, Waiguru and Ngilu who are defending their seats having been the pioneers five years ago.