I'll not be cowed to drop my governor bid - Jumwa

Nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi, former CS Aisha Jumwa and Kwale Woman Rep Fatuma Masito at Tononoka hall on Monday /JOHN CHESOLI

Former Gender CS Aisha Jumwa has stated that she is not a coward and will not be intimidated by anyone in her bid to secure the Kilifi governor seat in 2027.

ODM’s Gideon Mung’aro currently holds the position.

“They are surprised asking themselves what I have eaten. The world taught me while I was very young and that is why I’m so strong,” Jumwa said in Mombasa on Monday.

She spoke at Tononoka Hall where she was invited by nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi to be the chief guest at her women empowerment programme. They gave Sh3 million worth of goods to women and youth groups.

Jumwa claimed she has faced threats to her life and person, which she attributed to political enemies who do not want her to vie.

She said she has also faced sexual threats and harassment so many times from various quarters that it is no longer effective.

“I’m a product of resilience and perseverance. What a man can do a woman can do better. So no one should intimidate you that they will rape you,”  she said.

“Let me tell you. We love sex. We enjoy sex. I enjoy sex and that will never pull be down.”

The former CS said many women aspirants are intimidated into dropping out of political races.

“Kwani, do we do that act with toothbrushes? Why don’t we fear them and instead we vote for them? I tell you, if you have not been praised as a woman, praise yourself. If you have not been respected as a woman, respect yourself,” Jumwa said.

“When you see me standing tall, I have made myself gold because I have been through a lot of heat. It is not easy for a woman to be at a level where they need no introduction.”

She said, however, there is need for other strong women because time is moving and she is not getting any younger.

“That is why we have to mentor people like Miraj Abdillahi,” Jumwa said.

She said women are the majority in Kenya and are the ones who mainly vote, and so they should use their numbers to their advantage.

“Let us vie for these seats. We need more representation of women in the National Assembly, Senate and county governments,” Jumwa said.

Women empowerment, she said, is a continuous process. The former CS said women should continue supporting each other “until that day that we will have an equitable world for all”.

“That is when we will rest,” the former Malindi MP said.

The Kenya Roads Board chairperson lauded President William Ruto for empowering women by nominating and appointing them to various positions in government.

She said this gives women the strength to go toe to toe with men in the political, economic and social circles.

“As women, have fought a lot to get equality. We are fighting to end gender-based violence and many other ills that bedevil women,” the former CS said.

“The only seat that we should let alone is that of the President because it has its owner until 2032.” 

There are more than 28 elected female MPs in the National Assembly but Jumwa said more should be elected in 2027.

She rallied behind nominated Senator Miraj Abdillahi in her quest to be an elected leader in Mombasa but warned she should not go for any seat that is occupied by a woman at the moment.

“Women should not fight for a seat that is already being occupied by a woman. We will easily lose that seat should it happen that way,” Jumwa warned.

In Mombasa, apart from the woman rep seat, the Likoni MP seat is the only other seat occupied by a woman—Mishi Mboko.

Nominated MCA Elina Mapenzi said they have decided as Kilifi county they will walk with a woman.

She said women in Kilifi have become more courageous and no matter the intimidation they face, they will still support empowerment for women economically, socially and politically.