Women MPs defy parties’ wave as poll date draws closer

Women MPs from the Rift Valley are engaged in a last-ditch effort to retain their seats, including changing political parties.

Sotik’s Joyce Laboso, an ODM legislator, has changed her allegiance to the William Ruto-led United Republican Party (URP), joining her Eldoret South colleague, Peris Simam, who has stuck with Mr Ruto since the formation of that party.

In the past few weeks, there has been widespread speculation on which MPs from the Rift Valley will back Mr Ruto and URP. (READ: More to jump ship as leaders plot party raids)

Cooperatives assistant minister Linah Jebii Kilimo, MP for Marakwet East, has joined The National Alliance (TNA) and Mogotio’s Hellen Sambili has gone to Kanu.

While Cabinet minister and Aldai MP Dr Sally Kosgei remains in ODM, Beatrice Kones (Bomet) and Prof Margaret Kamar (Eldoret East) have not formally declared their parties of choice.

Tongues wagging

The move by Prof Sambili, who went to Parliament in 2007 on a United Democratic Movement (UDM) ticket, has set tongues wagging. In 2007, she was the only legislator in the region elected on a UDM ticket.

In her early days in Parliament, the MP aligned herself with ODM, who rewarded her with a Cabinet post. But ODM lost ground in Rift Valley to URP which was formed by Mr Ruto after fomenting a rebellion in the Orange party.

Prof Sambili later lost her Cabinet post after she aligned herself with Mr Ruto’s camp. Ms Kilimo, who was elected on a Kenda party ticket in 2007, says her choice of political party does not matter to her or her constituents.

“Changing parties for me is not a big deal. My constituents know the current political dynamics and I have no problem. Even our party initials (TNA) are good for all,” she told the Sunday Nation on the phone.

Mother of peace

The politician, who rides on her Kalenjin slogan Ya kalia (mother of peace), said: “I am not alone in this journey. Maybe my colleagues, who have taken independent decisions, also share the same sentiments with their constituents.”

Ms Kilimo’s popularity has been boosted by her efforts to stamp out female circumcision and cattle rustling as well as the push for resettlement of squatters evicted from Embobut forest.

She allied herself with Mr Ruto’s camp after joining him in the campaign against the constitution in the 2010 referendum. But she recently decamped to TNA, throwing political pundits into a spin.

While URP enjoys huge support in the North Rift, Ms Kilimo’s exit was seen as a blow in Elgeyo Marakwet county. She was accused of demanding a direct nomination which the party declined.

In a breakfast talk show broadcast in a Kalenjin-language FM station last Monday, Mr Ruto assured aspirants that the party’s nominations would be free and fair.

“Let me assure you that no one, including sitting MPs, will get direct nomination. All of them must face the electorate along with other aspirants.

"Kilimo has been demanding to be given a direct nomination, something that is against the wishes of the party members and also the party constitution. But I wish her well in her endeavours,” Mr Ruto said.

Earlier this week, Dr Kosgei said she was not ready to defect to URP. “I have respect for Mr Ruto and I urge you people to pray for him to overcome the problems he is facing at the International Criminal Court at The Hague,” Dr Kosgei said at a function in Kopujoi in her constituency.

She said she would defend her seat on an ODM ticket and was certain of re-election because of her development record. “There are 53 political parties in the country and I have arrived at the decision to stay put in the party that sponsored me to Parliament,” she said.

Dr Joseph Magutt, a political science lecturer at Kenyatta University, said the Kalenjin were witnessing a new development in women’s politics. Four of the women MPs – Kamar, Kosgei, Laboso and Sambili – have doctorate degrees.

“Women are basically trying to take a different direction in politics. The Kalenjin have branded them ‘children’ for long and they may be struggling for independence,” Dr Magutt said.

A lecturer at Narok University, Mr Philip Chebunett, said women give hope and promote freedom in parties.

“The women MPs have proved that you can liberate yourself from stereotypes and oppression. Those who thought it was suicidal to go against the political tide will now be forced to go back to the drawing board,” Mr Chebunett said.

But Dr Magutt said women MPs from the Rift Valley were driven by the desire for self-preservation.

“They fear being floored in the (URP) primaries. These women do not want to spend a lot of money on the nominations,” he said. “Look at how Ms Kilimo is plotting her re-election through TNA. I am worried she may not go through.”

Harassment

In the past, women who did not toe the men’s line were politically harassed. Others, like Chelagat Mutai, were jailed.

Ms Mutai, who was the first Kalenjin woman MP, landed in trouble in 1981 for complaining about land grabbing and leading her constituents to invade a plantation in Ziwa, Eldoret North constituency. She was jailed for six months.

She was named by then Attorney-General Charles Njonjo as one of the “Seven Bearded Sisters,” in reference to a group whose fiery debates in Parliament gave Kanu sleepless nights.

Ms Mutai, a political scientist, became the youngest MP in 1974 after her uncle, the late William Saina, was jailed for incitement. At only 24, she trounced 12 other candidates to become the country’s youngest legislator and first woman MP from the Kalenjin.