Women rank poorly in Jubilee picks
With the poor performance exhibited by the Jubilee party (JP) in the just-concluded election, only two women leaders were lucky to secure the party’s nomination slots to join Parliament.
Former Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege was nominated to the National Assembly while former Uasin Gishu Senator Margaret Kamar was nominated to the Senate.
Jubilee’s poor performance in the polls has left many shocked owing to the fact that the party, which saw the election of immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta to State House, was at one point a major outfit that controlled both houses of Parliament.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission guidelines, to qualify for nomination, each party list should have a reflection of the regional and ethnic diversity. Parties were required to submit names of 12 nominees to the National Assembly and 16 women to the Senate, two youth nominees and two persons with disability also to the Senate.
Chege’s nomination comes as a sigh of relief, as she did not defend her seat in the August 9 polls as she campaigned for Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga.
“I am here to ask for your blessings to engage in national politics and to explain why I decided to stick with Azimio. Finally, the Holy Spirit has spoken, I will not be vying for any elective position in Murang’a county,” she said.
Chege, who was number one in the nomination list, beat other candidates who had been lined up for nomination including party chairman Nelson Dzuya, and Alex Matere, who served in the Raila Presidential Campaign.
Impromptu visit
In Mount Kenya region, Jubilee only captured two parliamentary seats (Ol Kalou and Kinangop) and 24 MPs nationally.
For the Woman Rep seat, the party won in Isiolo and Nyamira, while for the Senate Jubilee posted wins in Garissa, Lamu and Isiolo.
Following her nomination, Chege now becomes the party’s only Nominated MP, to represent Uhuru in the National Assembly by virtue of her loyalty as all the other senior Jubilee officials like Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni and former Majority Leader Majority Amos Kimunya lost to the United Democratic Alliance candidates in Ndaragwa and Kipipiri constituencies.
“I am in Azimio and supporting Raila without any remorse. It is my choice and I am entitled to it. Belong where you want and take it home that I will never be intimidated,” she said.
In the Senate, Kamar is the only one who made despite Jubilee submitting a number of names to IEBC.
Party had also submitted names of various individuals who did not make it to the list.
They include Uhuru’s sister, Kristina Pratt, former Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu who stepped down from the governor’s race in favour of Polycarp Igathe, outgoing Gender Chief Administrative Secretary Linah Jebii Kilimo, Kenyan ambassador to Iran Subow Rukia Ahmed Subo.
Kamar did not defend her seat despite saying she would be contesting on an independent ticket after falling out with President William Ruto and his United Democratic Alliance party.
