By Agnetta Okwemba
The famous G7, a united group of seven women governors in the country, have initiated plans to ensure that their number is increased to 24 after the 2027 general election.
Increasing the number of governors and other political leadership positions in the country will ensure women in leadership have a say on matters of governance and decision making of the country’s affairs.
This was said in Kwale county where governor Fatuma Achani hosted the G7 summit after opening various development projects and launching a construction project in Kinango.
The summit which saw female governors applauding their own on matters devolution, took a slight political turn.
The G7 is a caucus that was intended to showcase the ability of a woman who has successfully joined the political class to fight for the rights of their fellow women in the society.
This came at an interesting time where the two thirds gender rule was being implemented.
For many years’ women have been left out of political positions being said not to be fit for the political positions which at a greater percentage was male dominated.
This fire however is seen to be dimmed as time goes by after an envisioned addition of 17 women in the next general elections.
After the implementation of devolution according to the 2010 constitution, the first round of elections (2013) saw no woman as a governor.
A step was made in the 2017 elections that had 3 women joining the seat. An even bigger step in the 2022 elections, having the number at 7.
“Achani deserves another seat in the next elections as we welcome other women onboard to have the number move to 24,” said Anne Waiguru, Governor Kirinyaga County.
Fatuma Achani, who served as a deputy governor for 10 years, is now the governor of Kwale county aspiring to serve her second term.
The digo word “Tolwa si Tolwa” was heard being associated with Achani’s name at the event to mean that with the various developments she has brought the residents of Kwale, they have no doubt to give her a through-pass in the next elections.
Achani has touched on all sectors in matters developments such as the county’s health sector that now boasts having an Oncology Center in Kwale hospital, an audio-visual studio for the Youths to nurture their talents and also the construction of Kwale stadium and various roads around the county.
Governor Achani urged Health CS Deborah Mlongo Barasa to work with KEMSA on ensuring counties have drugs amidst funding challenges.
“Kwale county is sometimes faced with lack of funds due to a late disbursement from the national government and payment from the NHIF,” explained Achani.
Humorously naming Kwale as a county that is not associated with debts, Achani asked CS Mlongo to ensure swift issuance of the drugs for patients in Kwale County.
The health CS Mlongo urged Kwale residents to ensure that they are registered under the Social Health Authority (SHA) noting that the benefits are bigger and better.
“For our pregnant women, SHA gives you Kshs. 32,000 to cater for your delivery process” said Mlongo.
SHA, which was recently introduced to replace NHIF, is claimed to manage funds of its people in a better way than the latter and also covers all persons across the bracket without discrimination.
Mlongo also promised to push for more health projects in Kwale county.
The G7 summit in Kwale county, encouraged women to join the political field without the fear of gender intimidation.
