President Uhuru Kenyatta has been urged not to relent in the fight against corruption.
Women leaders from Jubilee and the Opposition yesterday also asked county assemblies to reject Dr Ekuru Aukot’s Punguza Mizigo Bill.
The leaders, under Team Embrace, praised President Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga for initiating the “handshake”, saying it had brought stability in the country. The MPs said any Kenyan can now travel to any part of the country without fear.
“The country is now calm because of the handshake. President Kenyatta and Raila should be supported by all Kenyans,” Homa Bay Woman Representative Gladys Wanga said at Garissa Primary School.
Call for peace
She said the handshake bore the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) whose report they asked Kenyans to support when it is made public.
“When the BBI team makes public its report, let us all support it as it will address most of the problems bedeviling the country. Forget Punguza Mizigo. Reject that one,” she said.
The BBI, whose chairman is Garissa Senator Yussuf Haji, is expected to make its report public before next month.
Wanga took a swipe at Leader of Majority in the National Assembly Adan Duale for his grandstanding on issues that affect Kenyans.
“He is always chest-thumping in the House and I am telling him he is not worth the position he is occupying. He needs to respect women leaders,” she said.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko said the fight against corruption should be supported by all Kenyans.
“We are telling President Kenyatta to continue with the fight against corruption because it has held back the country for long,” she said.
“We will continue preaching peace and unity amongst all Kenyans. We are not fighting anyone but we will not be cowed down.”
Mboko said although Jubilee has fielded a candidate in the Kibra by-election, it will not dampen the unity between the President and Raila.
The Likoni lawmaker said a conducive environment should be provided for industries to flourish so as to solve joblessness amongst the youth.
Wajir Woman Representative Fatuma Gedi, who was hosting the 30-odd women leaders, told locals that political ground has shifted and they should not be swayed into the opposition.
“We must open our eyes. We cannot afford to be in the opposition, let us unite under Uhuru and Raila,” she said.
Gedi said the government has initiated various development projects in the region, including electricity connection to the national grid and tarmacking of the Garissa-Wajir and Isiolo-Wajir roads.
“We have sat with Interior CS and he has accepted to have a Passport Control Office here in Garissa and also ensure those whose finger prints are with UNHCR are removed so that they can get their identity cards,” she said.
Selfish leaders
Gedi took issue with politicians whom she said have been inciting locals against the Embrace Team in Garissa.
Baringo Woman Representative Gladwel Cheruiyot said Kenyans should open their eyes and stop being lied to by selfish leaders. “Kenyans should not allow themselves to be used by selfish politicians. This is the time for development,” she said.
The Embrace Team has been crisscrossing the country in support of President Kenyatta and Raila.
The function was also attended by Rachel Shebesh, the Chief Administrative Secretary of the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs and Beatrice Elachi, Nairobi County Speaker.
The women leaders urged political leaders to shun divisive agenda and instead call for unity that they said will foster development.
Security was tight in and around the venue, with armed police officers patrolling the area.
