Samburu women have said they will unite, compete with men and vote for
other women next year.
“We will not allow culture, fear, gender discrimination and intimidation to prevent us from competing with men,” religious leader Lillian Letiwa said yesterday.
She spoke during a civic training session for women in Maralal town.
Letiwa urged men running for governor and speaker seats to choose women as their deputies so the country can achieve the to achieve the two-thirds gender rule. Religious leaders have said they will support women running for office.
Cleric Felix Muiru said women should be given an equal chance to run for office.
“We will use our influence to persuade our followers to elect women who have proven their leadership skills. Let us embrace gender equity for all jobs,” he said.
Muiru urged the community to get rid of the perception that women cannot make good leaders.
Muslim cleric Abdahahi Mohammed spoke against female genital mutilation and early marriages. He said women should be empowered through education so they can have a level playing field with men.
“FGM and early marriages have prevented women from contesting for leadership posts. Our communities should abandon backward practices,” he said.
NGO Women’s Empowerment Link is educating religious leaders and elders on the importance of women in leadership.
The lobby is encouraging clerics to preach women’s leadership to their congregations.
Director Judy Kimamo said elders and religious leaders are best placed to advocate for women leaders.
“This is a strategy for us to ensure we meet the constitutional demand of having not more than two-thirds representation of either gender at both the county and national levels,” she said.
Kimamo encouraged women to run for office.
Those running for Samburu woman representative include Pauline Lenguris, Rebbeca Lengupae, Jesper Lorno and incumbent Maison Leshomo.
Nominated Senator Naisula Lesuuda will run for Samburu West MP.
Last week, Samburu East MP Raphael Letimalo urged leaders to fight FGM and early marriate without fear of losing election.
He urged politicians to fight FGM and child marriage.
Letimalo also warned against rescuing girls from FGM and then marrying them off.
He said this deprives them of education
and possibilities in life.