The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) has joined the ongoing debate on who is best suited to deputise Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko.
The County Head on Wednesday set tongues wagging following the shock nomination of firebrand politician Miguna Miguna. The embattled lawyer has since dismissed the nomination as a malicious distraction.
He added via Twitter on Thursday: “Sonko and I have not spoken, met or communicated since our gubernatorial debate in July 2017. I will not comment on malicious information, material or cheap propaganda circulating in social media. Thank you.”
On the same day, FIDA came out with a request to Sonko to consider a woman for the coveted seat.
In a letter addressed to Sonko, Federation chairperson Mrs. Josephine Wambua Mongare reminded the under-fire governor that the 2010 constitution entrenches the principle of equality and requires that appointments should comply with not more than Two-Thirds Gender Rule at all levels.
“Whereas not all County Governments have met this threshold, we call upon you to show leadership in this area and consider a woman nominee from a list of competent and highly qualified women of repute,” Mrs. Mongare urges in the letter.
FIDA further noted that women are capable of meeting whatever criteria that is set out in selecting the next Deputy Governor.
Before Miguna’s nomination, which experts attribute to the handshake between Uhuru and Raila, Sonko had vowed to nominate a technocrat woman from the Kikuyu community.
“I know that the deputy governor post should go to a Kikuyu because they have a large population that supported me but let me appoint a Kikuyu I want. A technocrat, a professional and an elite. I already have names and I will give it to a woman but I need to consult first and the only people I will consult are President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy president William Ruto,” said Sonko during an interview on Kameme FM.
Corporate guru Ms Agnes Kagure, former Kiambu Woman Representative Ann Nyokabi, and former Starehe MP Bishop Margaret Wanjiru are some of the notable names have been named as possible contenders.
