Incoming Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok is under massive pressure to appoint a female deputy.
Speaking on Saturday, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga urged Barchok to appoint a woman as his deputy, since the late Governor Joyce Laboso was a lady.
"I thought that is taken for granted. That is not an issue really. Because a woman was a governor and a man was her deputy, now when the woman governor has left the position it is automatic that a woman would become a deputy governor. I don't think that should be an issue, " the ODM party leader said.
According to Raila, the gap between women and men in leadership positions needs to be confronted head on and fixed.
He lashed out at those calling for the scrapping of nomination of women to leadership positions.
Meanwhile, Kirinyaga County Governor Anne Waiguru also appealed to Barchok to appoint a female deputy governor.
Speaking during the burial of Laboso, Waiguru said installing a woman as deputy governor would go a long way in honouring Dr Laboso who, she said, was passionate about seeing women ascend to leadership positions.
We request that the governor who is taking over chooses a lady Deputy Governor to honour our sister," she appealed.