We all — okay at least those old enough do — remember Warembo na Kibaki.
This was the bevy of beauties that sashayed and rocked all over the country, canvassing support for President Mwai Kibaki’s do or die reelection battle with Raila Odinga.
Well, seems Raila has borrowed from the same script and with each new day, a new formation of female supporters seem to be sprouting seeking to shore up the ODM candidate’s popularity as another battle royale unfolds, this time against Deputy President William Ruto.
They come in all names, shapes, and sizes but their goal is the same — to see Raila sworn in as the fifth president of Kenya. One of the newest kids on the ODM bloc is the outfit going by the name ‘Baba’s Finest’.
One of the founder members, Martha Sieunda, says they are driven by the need to have Raila clinch the presidency.
“Our motivation is HE Raila Odinga. He's everything anyone would want in a politician. The group comprises of different professionals, including teachers, accountants and businesspeople etc. We believe the Right Honorable has the best chance of his life this time around. He's at a real vantage point,” Sieunda says.
Maureen Arua is eying the Kamukunji parliamentary seat and she is the one behind the ‘Virgin Votes for Raila’ outfit. Asked on the choice of the name she says, “There are very many young people who have never voted before and 2022 will be their first time at the election booth and we want to tie up this bloc for ODM and Raila come the elections”.
Then there is the ‘Daughters of Raila’ group that has been traversing the country campaigning for the former Prime Minister.
But the group of the moment seems to be group calling itself ‘The Young Captains’, which brings together female students from universities and colleges across the country. It is a leadership mentorship wing of the ODM Women’s League operating under the tagline ‘taking on the future now’.
The head of the ODM Women’s League Secretariat Lizzy Yogo says the ODM Women League recognises that mentorship is the most effective weapon in growth.
“We acknowledge that mentorship is laying the future in the hands of a more youthful population in the present, walking with and watching them take on certain responsibilities that facilitate their growth and onward preparation to take on the future,” Yogo says.
The outfit is, therefore, a mentoring platform designed to grow young captains, equipping them to carry on the political mandate and further the socio-economic growth of the party.
As the captains of every other industry, the "Young and Vibrant" are expected to set the leadership standards for commitment, confidence, intelligence, and attitude of the team. The role of the Women League leadership is to inculcate such in this younger league outfit as they get mentored into the leadership space.
“The Young and Vibrant is our leadership development vehicle ignited to oversee the transition agenda as we bridge the leadership divide between the young and the old,” Yogo adds.
Information is not readily available on the number of the women groups that have sprung up to push for a Raila presidency but it seems the ODM supremo is all out this time round to capture the women vote, if his recent engagements are anything to go by.
Meeting a delegation from Lower Eastern at the party headquarters earlier this month, Raila rooted for respect for women, saying they should be treated well just like men.
"If we do this, there will be love in Kenya. Countries that have developed have given women opportunities in leadership roles," he said, adding, "If you leave women out, we won't have a working nation."
Soon after, Raila was at another meeting that drew women leaders from across the country and still keeping with his message of empowering women, he heaped praises on his wife, Mama Ida Odinga, saying she was the glue that held his family when he was in and out of jail and detention for his tough stance against the government of President Daniel Moi.
Mama Ida, who is a political heavyweight in her own right, seems to read from the same script with her husband when it comes to women’s participation in politics.
“To open space for women in leadership, we must reduce violence. Women would like to go to rallies like anybody else, but violence scares them.
Men also don't want their women to get involved because they don't know when they will be attacked by their opponents. There are also a lot of legislations that have been proposed that could address this issue once and for all,” Ida, who juggles her time between politics, homemaking and running the family business, said in a recent interview with the Nation.
As the formations line up and with the clock ticking towards the 2022 polls, the jury is still out if their efforts will yield them the desired results.
