Bahati parliamentary aspirant Irene Njkoki has vowed to keep her campaign going regardless of the threat, insult and intimidations.
The Jubilee aspirant said she is bold and cannot not be cowed by her male counterparts.
Njoki said she was born in Bahati and had a right like any other person born or living in the area to vie and represent the people.
“I will not give in to intimidation, I know the character of my opponents and I am well prepared to face them in a diplomatic manner, I will not engage in hiring goons and mud-slinging,” she said.
Speaking at Bahati trading centre when she met members of Turkana community, Njoki said she was ready to work and bring change.
She urged the government to support women aspirants who are going through different challenge in their quest for political leadership.
“I know a few of my colleagues who are going through hardships especially in the interior regions where security is an issue and I urge the government to assign them police protection,” she said.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has instructed county commissioners and local administrators to prioritise security of women aspirants ahead of the August 9 general elections.
He asked the administrators to create a database of all female aspirants and map out their security needs.
Njoki commended the government for taking the step and asked the concerned departments to ensure that the directive by Matiang’i was implemented.
She also applauded the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission for asking political parties to adhere to the two-third gender rule.
Turkana community chairperson, Justus Ekeno said the minority group had always been sidelined in the decision-making and development forums.
“There is a good number of the community members in Bahati but we have always been ignored because previous leaders said that our votes do not count,” he said.
Ekeno said the community endorsed Njoki for the seat and would vote for her because she recognised them.
The community youth leader, Peter Eregai his colleagues said they had benefitted from sports tournaments and mentorship programmes sponsored by Njoki.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)
