Nominated Senator Janet Ong’era has dismissed criticism that she should contest an elective seat where she is married as ‘petty and unwarranted’.
This comes after a fierce debate emerged on social media whether she deserves votes from her backyard if she goes for an elective seat with a large number ruling out her candidature since she is married in Kisumu County.
But on Saturday during a function at Bobasi, Ong’era termed the debate an ‘insult’ to women and challenged residents to emulate other Kenyan communities by rewarding their daughters.
“I have been following a debate on social media and I am shocked that people are saying I should serve the people where I am married," said Ongera.
"The myth is petty and unwarranted in my view. Time has come for us to live in the modern world,” she said.
“The fact that I am not married in Kisii doesn’t mean I cannot serve my people. Where I am married is a non-issue and what’s important is to vote my track record based on what I have done to the community,” she added.
While Ong’era has been reluctant to declare her favorite seat in 2017, she challenged county women to come out strongly in politics and go for elective seats.
“It’s not important to say the seat I will be contesting but my wish is that more women should join politics so that we do away with this culture in Kisii that women cannot lead," said Ong'era.
"As your daughters, reward us based on our contribution to the society and not on where we are married,” she said.
“After all we have seen people like Joyce Laboso and Cecil Mbarire elected in their father’s land rather than where they are married,” she said.
Gusii region has never elected a female parliamentarian in competitive politics apart from affirmative seats of Women Representatives introduced by the Kenyan constitution 2010.