The Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru has said they are committed to ensuring that the number of women governors rises from the current seven to at least 24 in 2027.
Waiguru said Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza’s multiple impeachment attempts shouldn’t dissuade other women who want to run for the gubernatorial seat in the next general elections.
“Ours is to encourage other leaders and ourselves as well because as you all know, it’s not easy to be a governor and certainly, not easy to be a woman governor,” Waiguru said.
She spoke during the Council of Governors Women Caucus (G7)’s joint presser at a Nairobi hotel on Thursday.
The governors present at the presser included; Waiguru, Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Cecily Mbarire (Embu), and Homa Bay’s Gladys Wanga.
The women governors held the presser before they proceeded for a two–day tour of Machakos County, hosted by Ndeti.
They expressed their support toward Mwangaza as she awaited the Senate’s verdict on her pending impeachment trial before the House.
“We at this time also express our sincere support to our sister Governor Kawira Mwangaza who wasn’t able to be here today because of the impeachment that she is going through right now and she has to prepare for Monday and Tuesday. We hope that she sails through, and that shouldn’t dissuade other women who want to run for the seat of governor,” Waiguru said.
Waiguru said they were delighted to be in Machakos County.
“We have talked about this for a very long time, we started the journey in Homabay County,” she said.
She disclosed that the idea of the G7 was to encourage women in leadership by encouraging those already elected to come together, visit one another and benchmark on development projects already implemented by their colleagues as they are currently doing in Machakos County.
“We also want to show that women exemplify exceptional leadership qualities in the sense that even just listening, Governor Wavinya has been here for just two years, but if you listen to the list of projects we will be going round to see, we will now start demystifying the issues around devolution and show Kenyans what devolution was supposed to do,” Waiguru said.
Waiguru said after Machakos, they will be visiting Nakuru, Embu, Kirinyaga, Kwale, and later Meru showcasing what women leaders are doing.
“We hope that we shall have achieved the objective of starting the journey moving from the G7 to G24 because we hope that in 2027, we will have 24 female governors. We want to start to encourage our male counterparts who are running for a second term that, look at what women can do if you have a woman running mate, consider her for support,” Waiguru said.
Ndeti said the idea of women governors was launched in March this year.
“I’m excited to welcome my sister governors to experience the beauty of Machakos and see for themselves what we have been able to accomplish in the last two years and the foundation we are laying for the future,” Ndeti said.
She said as they tour the county, it would be a pleasure to showcase their projects in healthcare, youth empowerment, talent development, social welfare, climate change, and infrastructure alongside a project under ‘Mama Initiative’ at the Matuu Daycare Centre.
Ndeti said they as governors shall learn a lot from each other at the end of the tour.
“The climax will be tomorrow when my sister governors and I will hold G7 Machakos County activation at the Kenyatta stadium. During this event, I intend to roll out my empowerment initiative by giving out equipment for women, youth groups as well as individuals,” she said.
She said a total of 227, 600 residents will benefit from the program.
