• The women said they are learned and capable of holding senior leadership positions.
• The county has six male aspirants gunning for the governor position.
Image: Alice Waithera
Women from Gatanga subcounty in Murang'a want governor aspirants to choose women as their running mates.
They said the time is ripe for women to be empowered by giving them a chance to prove their leadership skills.
Six aspirants, all male, have declared their ambition to succeed Governor Mwangi wa Iria who is ineligible for reelection and has announced his presidential bid.
They include Senator Irungu Kang'ata, former Water PS Wairagu wa Maai, former Devolution PS Irungu Nyakera, pharmacist Moses Mwangi, former Kigumo MP Jamleck Kamau and businessman Michael Gatogo.
The only woman aspirant, Woman Representative Sabina Chege, has since stopped her campaigns and is now focusing on rallying support for Azimio la Umoja. She was recently gazetted as a member of Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Council, led by President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The women have said that as caretakers of their homes, they have proven beyond doubt they can steer their families and many have lacked the opportunity to engage in politics.
Rose Muthoni said she vied for the Kariara MCA seat and garnered 600 votes during the UDA party nominations, emerging fourth.
She said if she gets the chance to lead, she would leave a legacy in her area.
"This is why we want aspirants to choose women because we are good leaders and sometimes we do not get the chance to show our skills," she said.
Muthoni asked Kang'ata, the UDA party's governor aspirant, to choose a woman as running mate.
Jane Wangui said most men in leadership are propelled by the support they get from the women in their lives.
Without them, she said, most would be unable to be in leadership.
Wangui said women are most affected by poor leadership as they are responsible for caring for their families.
"If women are involved in decision-making, they would help influence decisions that will better serve the community because they know the suffering women-folk go through," she said.
Esther Wanja said they will rally behind leaders who will choose women deputies.
"A woman knows that when you empower a woman, you empower an entire nation because she cannot eat and leave her family hungry. She keeps her family together and knows what to do to make lives better for people," she said.
Wanja said women are now learned and capable of holding senior leadership positions saying when more are empowered to hold them, they will inspire more to run for positions.
Edited by A.N
Image: Alice Waithera