August 9

Sifuna hints at possibility of Raila picking female running mate

Tuesday, April 19th, 2022 13:32 | By
Sifuna
ODM secretary-General Edwin Sifuna. PHOTO/John Makuba

Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party secretary-general Edwin Sifuna has hinted that Raila Odinga could appoint a woman to be his running mate in the August general election.

Speaking in an interview with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) radio, Sifuna however warned politicians against pressuring Raila to announce his running mate.

"We can not disregard the role women play in this nation. ODM has the most active women league. Raila Odinga has been pushing for the two-thirds Gender Rule and I believe he will make the right decision," said Sifuna.

"Let’s not exert unnecessary pressure on Raila Odinga regarding who should be his Presidential running mate."

This comes amidst pressure from within the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance, with different camps pushing to have their preferred candidate be Raila's running mate.

Wiper Party's Kalonzo Musyoka has been fronting himself as the most "natural" candidate for the position but is facing fierce rivalry from Martha Karua who is being fronted by women in the coalition led by Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu.

Others backing Karua include Anne Kananu (Nairobi), Deputy Governor Caroline Karugu (Nyeri), and Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege.

“We are saying that it is possible for Azimio leadership to consider a woman to be a running mate of our presidential candidate. We are going to demand the slot and will not be apologetic about it,” Ngilu said.

“Already, there are two men at the top and so the third must be a woman as per the two-thirds gender rule. We have a woman Chief Justice, Auditor General, Controller of Budget, and we need to occupy the DP post.”

Sifuna trashed Kalonzo's sentiments that Azimio, which is backed by 26 parties, is a three-legged political outfit, saying that each party is equally important.

"Azimio Coalition is not a three-legged stool. Every party joined the coalition voluntarily therefore no party should feel more important than the other," said Sifuna.

On Monday, President Uhuru Kenyatta held a meeting with Raila and Kalonzo where the Wiper Party leader was reportedly told to tone down his demands for the running mate position.

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