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President Uhuru Kenyatta tactfully vouched for Martha Karua who is the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya coalition party’s running mate in the August elections during his Madaraka Day speech sparking excitement among attendants.

The head of state spoke about how his administration had worked hard to achieve gender parity in line with the actualization of the two-third gender principle in Kenya and urged citizens to consider Raila Odinga’s presidency which he says has given a chance to a woman.

Uhuru said he had worked with a total of 11 women in his cabinets during his two terms at the helm of the country’s leadership, wishing that more women are given opportunities in the upcoming administration.

He noted that in 2018, he appointed the first woman Major General Fatuma Ahmed to the Kenya Defense Force (KDF).

The President also noted that in 2021, he witnessed the appointment of Nancy Gathungu as Kenya’s first woman Auditor General.

Uhuru also stressed that women occupy top positions in the Judiciary with Chief Justice Martha Koome and her deputy Philomena Mwilu being women.

“And of course, we have our three arms of government one of which is now headed by a woman. After 58 years of our independence in May of 2021, I had the profound honour of being the first President of the republic to commence an address with the salutation ‘madam Chief Justice’ when the honourable Lady Justice Martha Koome assumed office as the first woman Chief Justice. We are also proud of the fact that Kenya’s judiciary boasts of a female deputy Chief Justice, a female Chief Registrar and many female principal judges and presiding judges across our superior courts,” he said.

Uhuru says Kenyans have a chance to elect female DP

The President indirectly insinuated that it is high time Kenya elected a woman Deputy President.

Uhuru said if elected, Martha Karua would break the glass ceiling by assuming the second-highest office in the country which he says will be a plus for women in Kenya.

“Going further in August of this year, if it’s the wish of the Kenyan electorates, we have a chance of electing a woman and shuttering the glass ceiling by assuming the second-highest office in the Republic of Kenya,” President Uhuru Kenyatta stated.