Gladys Wanga promises to empower boda boda riders, fight 'just a woman' tag

As the clock ticks towards party primaries, every aspirant is doing all it takes to woo voters.

Many politicians are keen to do everything that can enable them to win seats.

Like other politicians, Homa Bay Woman Rep Gladys Wanga is not leaving anything to chance in her quest for the county governor seat.

She has devised a strategy of not leaving any section of voters out of her campaign target audience. Wanga has taken a keen interest in boda boda operators.

She recently joked with the operators by telling them that she is their agemate. That morning, Wanga had met the leaders of the operators in Homa Bay County and operators from Ndhiwa Constituency.

In the meeting held at a hotel at Maram Village, Ndhiwa Constituency, the riders were amused with Wanga’s statements.

“Kuom ji duto maduaro gavana e kaunti ka, an e mbasu ma unyalo kata ngerorugo (Among the people who are eyeing governorship, I am your age mate with whom you can joke),” Wanga said in the local dialect, Dholuo.

But the statement was received with joy. Many were amused because the word ‘ngerruok’ can have many meanings depending on the context of the conversation. It can be used to create an environment that facilitates the development of a deeper relationship.

The chairman of boda boda operators in Homa Bay County Ken Dede said Wanga had demonstrated that she is ready to work with the riders if she ascends to governorship.

“We need a governor who can serve the interests of boda boda riders and we have seen the desired qualities in her,” Dede said.

Wanga promised to allocate Sh200m every financial year for empowering boda boda riders if she succeeds in her gubernatorial ambition. She argued that boda boda riders had been ignored for many years.

“Boda boda is a robust and fast-growing sector of the economy in our country. I am going to ensure there are good roads besides the financial empowerment to promote the sector,” said Wanga.

The Woman Rep argued that she is committed to doing away with the discriminatory phrase “Dhako adhaka (just a woman)”.

The phrase is used to perceive women as people who are unable to compete equally among their male counterparts in a contest. But Wanga described the phrase as a stereotype and promised to disapprove those who perpetrate the hatred. Her focus is on developing good relations with voters.

“I know boda boda riders who are also my fellow youths are with me. The same applies to women and the elderly. I have every reason to be confident in my ambition,” said Wanga.

Wanga recently held a rally that elicited criticism among her fellow aspirants. A number of aspirants accused her of inviting Azimio la Umoja campaign brigade to the rally.

However, she dared her competitors to do their campaign launch the same way she did.

“Some people are criticising my campaign launch due to their selfishness. Let them also organise the launch of their campaigns for us to compare and contrast if they can match mine,” Wanga said.

She expressed optimism that her dream of being the second governor of Homa Bay will come true.