Mombasa, KENYA: The increase in the number of women seeking elective posts ahead of the 2017 August General Elections is sending shivers to their male counterparts in the region.
If the aggression with which women are campaigning starting from Ward representative to Senatorial and MP posts is anything to go by, then the number of women legislators in the region will shoot up.
For decades, women have been pushed aside in the political arena, due to lack of resources and especially due to culture in the region.
However, with the increase of enlightenment forums and civic education, most of the women eyeing seats in the next elections are bold and are popular on the ground.
This has made most of their male counterparts to go back to the drawing board.
Mombasa county Deputy governor Hazel Katana, for instance, shocked many when she announced her bid to vie for Mombasa Senatorial seat after defecting from ODM to Jubilee.
Her move sent shivers to her opponents especially from the ODM fraternity, going by the fact that Jubilee party is considered to be financially stable when it comes to supporting it’s aspirants.
Many aspirants of the senate seat are afraid that Jubilee will pour lots of money to lure Mombasa residents to snub the seat.
Since then Katana’s influence in the county has been growing, sending panic to her male counterparts.
Another strong lady politician in the region, is Mombasa women representative Mishi Mboko, who has said she would be seeking the Likoni parliamentary seat in the coming elections.
Mboko will go against ODM rebel Masoud Mwahima who declared that he would defend his position on a Jubilee ticket.
The seat has more male aspirants including Hamisi Domoko who is also ODM chairman in the sub-county.
READ ALSO: Aspirant accuses Women Rep of trying to bribe him with sh. 48M to drop bid
Nominated Senator Emma Mbura is another force to reckon with when it comes to politics at the Coast Region.
Mbura who is vying for the Rabai MP seat, made a decision to ditch Jubilee for Maendeleo Chap Chap after sensing male chauvinism in the UhuruRuto led party.
READ ALSO: Mutua extends party wings at the Coast as Senator Mbura defects to Chap Chap
When we go to the grassroots level, Nominated MCA Mary Akinyi has also expressed her interest in the Airport ward seat which is currently being held by a male MCA.
Speaking to Baraka FM during a past interview, Mary said that there is need for more women in policy and decision making positions.
“Women are now bold and have come out to vie for posts, and women should not fear men. Let us come out and face them,” said Akinyi.
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