×
The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.
  • Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
  • The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
  • P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
  • Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
  • Email: [email protected]

We were not nominated because of sex - women leaders

County_Nairobi
 Women leaders in past function

Nomination of female politicians in National Assembly, the Senate and County assemblies is based on sexual favours, fraud and ethnicity as opposed to merit and this is undermining performance, observers say.

This comes in the wake of disturbing reports about the moral conduct of certain nominated women leaders and revelations that a number of nominated female MCAs are involved in illicit affairs that have rocked their marriages.

Activist Okiya Omtatah believes most of the nominated female politicians have demonstrated they are not servants but job seekers who were handed a lifeline by various political parties.

“The whole process of nominating women is a sham and unconstitutional since nominations are given out based on other things other than competence and merit,” he said.

 According to him, most of the beneficiaries are not equal to the task and never articulate gender issues.

“They have just increased numbers in the national assembly, the senate and County assemblies and never take their representation roles seriously and are interested in the salaries they are entitled to,” said Omtatah. “Women alone should pick their representatives away from political parties so that we can have the right people being nominated and not those out to exploit the taxpayer.”

But Cynthia Malietso, a nominated MCA from Kakamega and Masinde Muliro University Literature graduate defended the criteria used to select the nominees.

“We participate actively in hunting for votes on behalf of our parties and work very hard to mobilise the electorate, so we deserve to be nominated after the rigorous exercise,” she said.

She termed as unfortunate and demeaning claims of sex favours arguing that it was not a reason why parties settle on particular individuals as their nominees.

“Women can never be sex objects and will not bend that low at the expense of their dignity,” she said, adding that the notion that women must yield to sex favours before earning a nomination must change.

She is of the view that education requirements must be raised to ensure only qualified people are selected to fill the nomination posts by their respective parties be it at the National Assembly level, Senate and the County assemblies.

Nominated Senator Beatrice Elachi (TNA) also defended her colleagues saying most of them were up to the task in regard to contributing to debates in the senate, the national assembly and in county assemblies.

“It is important for those nominated to understand that these are affirmative seats and that we are the voice of our sponsor parties,” said Elachi.

According to her, sometimes they are compelled to remain flexible on whatever agenda they have in order not to clash with the party interests.

“Unfortunately, you have to facilitate the party and other functions with resources,” she said adding that the best nomination should come after the elections so that those who diligently worked for the party are rewarded to avert claims of favourism and sexual favors that keep on haunting nominated female politicians,” she said.

The current constitution demands that political parties submit names of their nominated politicians prior to elections.

ODM Chairman John Mbadi confessed that transparency during nomination has has been questioned but insists that only loyal people to parties have to be rewarded with other qualifications such as youth, women and education being taken into consideration.

The Suba lawmaker cited MPs Millie Odhiambo and Rachael Shebesh as some of the women who proved their worth as nominated lawmakers, and added that “most women leaders have fronted crucial Bills and legislations that mean a lot to this country”.

“The notion (of sex as a criteria for selection) is not true. Women have the capacity to ascend to leadership positions without having to do unimaginable things,” he added.

He says there too many expectations on nominated female politicians when in real sense they have done much better in terms of performance compared to the elected ones.

“Why are we so harsh on nominated leaders and lenient to the elected ones?’’ he posed.

 

Related Topics


.

Popular this week

.

Latest Articles