MPs accuse Jubilee of intimidating female senators

A bid by Jubilee Party to fire five women nominated senators who never attended a Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting convened by President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House last week, has raised a storm.

Newly elected Senate Majority Chief Whip Irungu Kang’ata last Wednesday wrote show cause letters to the five women nominated senators to explain their absence from the Monday meeting.

“I have instruction from Jubilee Party to forward to you the annexed self-explanatory notice to show cause why,” read part of the letter.

The senators copied included Millicent Omanga, Falhada Dekow, Naomi Jillo Waqo, Victor Prengei and Mary Seneta Yiane.

The five are among other senators who snubbed the meeting that endorsed change of Senate leadership.

Some Jubilee women MPs led by Kandara MP Alice Wahome are up in arms over the decision terming the move as selective.

 “We reject and denounce the manner in which the party has selectively issued letters to Jubilee women nominated senators who allegedly did not attend a PG meeting at State House,” they said.

Ms Wahome said some male senators did not attend the meeting too, but did not received the letters.

The female legislators said women had been dealt a blow after the removal of Nakuru Senator Susan Kihika from the Chief Whip position.

DISCRIMINATION

“Why would our PG purport to remove a woman Chief Whip and replace her with a man? This only comes to show the treatment of women by our party,” she said.

Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, said the place of women in political parties should be protected.

Ms Jumwa urged the female senators to stand firm and not accept intimidation and discrimination because of their gender.

“Women have fought hard for gender equality in political leadership. It is sad that their efforts are being watered down. The rights of women should be protected,” she said.

The MPs warned their party against what they termed as issuing threats targeting women leaders in Jubilee.

Senator Christine Zawadi wrote to Mr Kang’ata explaining that she could not access the Nairobi due to restrictions on movement imposed over Covid-19 pandemic. She, however, endorsed the resolutions of the meeting.

During the meeting at State House attended by 20 senators, new Senate leadership was elected two of them women who included Isiolo Senator Fatuma Dullo Adan and nominated Senator Farhiya Ali Haji as deputy Senate majority leader and senate deputy Senate Chief Whip respectively.

Senate speaker Ken Lusaka approved the changes.