President Uhuru Kenyatta with his deputy William Ruto. [Photo/the-star.co.ke]
Thousands of women from Samburu and Marsabit Counties have vowed to vote for President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The women said they will not allow themselves to remain outside the Jubilee Government nor allow the opposition to force a coalition one.
They said the five NASA leaders are capitalizing on the issue of temporary insecurity in Samburu to hoodwink voters from the expansive County.
“Votes are with the women and our decision is one. We cannot abandon our own son (Uhuru Kenyatta) “, said Samburu Women Representative Maison Leshoomo.
She spoke during a women empowerment meeting convened by the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) in Maralal and attended by the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
Other speakers who included nominated senator Naisula Lesuuda , Samburu MYWO chairperson Ann Lenturakan, her Marsabit counterpart Fatuma Godana and MYWO national chairperson Mrs Rahab Mwikali agreed with Leshoomo that women votes and support belong to Jubilee and President Kenyatta.
“Women will make a defining moment for this country on 8th August. We shall not vote for five (NASA) people motivated by selfish interests”, said Mrs Mwikali who also asked MYWO members to vote wisely.
Mrs Mwikali cautioned the women that if they vote for the NASA leaders, they will automatically be removing the current First Lady from office.
“We do not change our mothers no matter what. We must vote for the President to ensure our mother (First Lady) remains in office”, she added.
When she spoke, the First Lady asked the residents of Samburu to vote for the Jubilee Government to allow President Uhuru Kenyatta complete his work.
“Let Uhuru Kenyatta finish the work he started and I will work with him”, said the First Lady
She said only the Jubilee Government has a known record to deliver results.
“Elect the Jubilee Government, and you will be electing results”, she said at Allamano Multi-Purpose Community Youth centre grounds during a meeting organized by the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO).
Today’s event was the fourth, following similar meetings recently held in Kitui, Kajiado and Isiolo where the First Lady addressed thousands of women.
The First Lady made a promise to support women acquire skills and seed funding to kick-start their businesses.
She assured the women from the County that she will work closely with the MYWO to enable many women train and acquire the necessary skills and resources to start and manage their own enterprises.
The First Lady said all matters concerning women and education for the girl-child will continue being her top priorities just as the Jubilee Government continues to support women initiatives through funding.
“Women will continue to be my priority just as the Jubilee Government has in the last four years invested in women by providing funding opportunities through the various funds specifically targeted for women and the youth”, said the First Lady.
She gave President Kenyatta’s assurance that, when re-elected on August 8, the Jubilee Government will continue with investments and expansion of women enterprises through specific women and youth funds
“And President Uhuru Kenyatta has promised that, when re- elected, he and the Jubilee Government will continue the investments and expand women enterprises to empower women so that they can support their families”, she said
Acknowledging that some parts of the country including Samburu had suffered huge losses of livestock and crops due to drought, the First Lady said the Government had set aside adequate funds to assist affected families.
She affirmed the promise by President Kenyatta and the Government that no Kenyan will die from famine.
“That is the promise from the President, that is the promise of Jubilee, that is my promise”, said the First Lady who has for the last six months been mobilizing huge financial resources in collaboration with the Kenya Red Cross to assist affected Kenyans.
The First Lady said access to water also remains a major challenge in various parts of the country where women trek long distances to fetch the commodity.
She gave the Government’s assurance to bring fresh water closer to the people so that girls-who usually spend many hours looking for the commodity-can spend more time in school and women more time building their skills and improving their trade and businesses.
She said Samburu County had made huge gains in the area of health especially in saving the lives of mothers and children- but much more needs to be done to ensure the people are protected from the constant threats of drought.
There is also need to ensure that girls are able to concentrate on their studies and access equal opportunities like other girls across the country-on their way to assume leadership positions.
The First Lady thanked the County leadership for acquiring two more mobile clinics, worth Sh 26 million, to compliment the work of the Beyond Zero Mobile clinic that she delivered to Samburu in August 2014.
She said the commitment of Samburu people and inspiration buoyed her to complete the delivery of all the 47 mobile clinics to the 47 counties. Samburu was among the very first counties to receive the mobile clinic.
She said the mobile clinics had greatly changed the lives and health fortunes of Samburu people especially mothers and children.
County Commissioner Wilfred Kinyua enumerated the many development projects initiated or completed by the Jubilee Government.