Youthful women allocated House seats

When her nomination to contest for Nairobi Senate at the elections was taken away by her party, former Kasarani MP Elizabeth Ongoro was angry.

The Orange Democratic Movement had handed the ticket to Bishop Margaret Wanjiru, the former Starehe MP.

At a press conference at her office at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre last January, she accused ODM of discriminating against her on the basis of her ethnicity.

ODM had allegedly offered her the direct nomination to vie in the newly created Ruaraka constituency — her Kasarani was split three ways — but she refused to have the certificate snatched from Mr Tom Joseph Kajwang’.

Kenya Gazette

But on Thursday, Ms Ongoro was arguably one of the happiest politicians in Nairobi after the electoral commission published in a special issue of the Kenya Gazette, the list of Nominated Members of Parliament.

Ms Ongoro is among four women nominated to the Senate by ODM and will certainly feel vindicated for two reasons: first, that she has gone to the Senate as she had planned, but without the fierce competition with the popular Mike Sonko and second, that Mr Kajwang’ was elected.

The Nation could not reach her for comment on Thursday, but it is unlikely she could go ahead with her threat to sue ODM for the Sh200 million she claimed to have spent on her bid to become Nairobi’s first Senator.

When she walks into the Senate, Ms Ongoro will be among an unprecedented number of women in the 11th Parliament — majority of them youthful — who have been handed free seats courtesy of the Constitution.

Some of the women nominated by their parties to the National Assembly and the Senate told the Nation they were keen to work for change both in Parliament and in the management of political affairs.

Ms Sunjeev Kaur Birdi, who has been nominated by Deputy President-elect William Ruto’s United Republican Party wing of the Jubilee Coalition described her nomination as “humbling”.

“Before my nomination, I had no previous experience in politics, but after I was involved in the recent gruelling presidential campaigns, I have developed an aptitude for politics and I believe I’m up to the task.

“Communities should move from seeking hand-outs and focus on tasking their political leaders to account for the implementation of development projects in their areas... This is the only way this country can move forward,” Ms Birdi, said.

Mr Kiraitu Murungi’s Alliance Party of Kenya nominated its secretary-general Beatrice Elachi as its representative to the Senate.

A former presenter with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation Ms Lesuuda Naisula is also headed to the Senate after she was nominated by The National Alliance.

But Cabinet minister Sally Kosgei and two assistant ministers are among prominent people who missed out on party nominations to Parliament. Ms Kosgei, the Agriculture Minister was on the ODM nomination list alongside Housing assistant minister Margaret Wanjiru, but were left out by the IEBC when it picked out new Nominated MPs and Senators.

ODM slots for Nominated MPs were taken up by assistant minister Oburu Oginga, Isaac Mwaura and Zulekha Hassan Juma, while the Senate ones went to assistant minister Elizabeth Ongoro, party executive officer Jane Ongera and Dr Agnes Nzani.

Wiper seats were handed to Bishop Robert Mutua (MP) and Ms Judith Sijeny (Senate).

A late move by The National Alliance to amend its last to have assistant minister Linah Jebii Kilimo nominated as senators was ruled out by the IEBC. TNA secretary-general Onyango Oloo said he was shocked after the commission failed to accept the nomination.

Mrs Kilimo who lost her Marakwet West seat in the just concluded General Election had requested the party to nominate her, forcing the party leader Mr Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene.

“It is true we sent a letter to IEBC asking them to drop Joy Gwendo and insert Mrs Kilimo’s name. We are shocked that it didn’t happen,” Mr Oloo said.

Though Mr Michael Waikenda, the party’s director for communications, was also listed, he missed out after IEBC allocated only four seats to TNA.

Slots went to chairman

TNA slots went to Public Health Minister Beth Mugo (Senate), chairman Johnson Sakaja (MP), Nominated MP Amina Abdallah, Ms Janet Marania Teiyaa (MP), Ms Emma Mbura Getrude (Senate) and journalists Lesuuda (Senate) and Joy Adhiambo Gwendo( Senate). The commission also dropped Lydia Mathia to meet regional balance and settled on Ms Lesuuda.

Former Nominated MP Mark Too who had been listed by the UDF was left out as was Mr Christopher Mandu of Ford-K.

UDF slots went to party chairman Hassan Osman (MP) and Martha Wangari (Senate) while those of Ford-K went to Mr Patrick Wangamati (MP) and Catherine Nobwola (Senate).

Reported by John Ngirachu, Mike Mwaniki and Njeri Rugene, Isaac Ongiri and Bernard Namunane