Two woman representatives – Gladys Wanga(Homa Bay) and Pamela Odhiambo(Migori) – have urged girls to focus on education and avoid shortcuts, such as dating sponsors.
This comes after the death of Sharon Otieno, a student at Rongo University, who was abducted alongside Nation journalist Barack Oduor. The journalist is said to have been investigating a story of a love gone sour between Migori governor Okoth Obado and Sharon Otieno, who was pregnant. Oduor managed to escape by jumping out of a moving car but Sharon wasn’t as fortunate.
Speaking about the matter, Gladys Wanga asked girls to learn from the case and avoid ‘sponsors’.
“Our girls…this must be a lesson to you…it doesn’t matter where you come from but be contented with what you have and focus…leave alone the sponsors and focus,” Wanga said.
Addressing journalists at Parliament buildings on Wednesday, the Homa Bay woman rep also called on the DCI to quickly solve the murder.
“It is a very sad morning, this act must be condemned. This is the true test for the DCI because it is alleged that the high and mighty are involved,” she said.
“It does not matter who you are, nobody deserves to take a life …we want the real person behind this matter arrested and charged with the murder of Sharon.”
Her Migori counterpart Dr Pamela Odhiambo appealed to the young girls to accept their humble backgrounds.
“I appeal and urge our young people that accept the conditions that you are in and avoid shortcuts.”
“It is okay that you are a student…whatever humble background you have, just accept that you are a student,” she said.
She further asked mothers to guard their daughters and take it upon themselves to know what is happening in their lives.
“As a mother, I want to offer my condolences…mothers poleni sana…whether you went to school or not, be as close to your daughter as possible and make sure they are protected regardless of their social economic status,” she said.
“We demand for respect of our lives. I demand for righteous leadership for all the male leaders. It is not right to use money and position to lure our young daughters to their deaths.”
Odhiambo noted that the murder is ‘shameful and unacceptable’ and said women from Migori county will not relent until the perpetrators are brought to book.
“The pain is unbearable for the family. We know there is nothing that can pay for a life but justice needs to be carried out regardless of who they are,” she said.
“We are struggling with the education of the girl child and it’s very sad. We condemn this heinous act and we call upon the investigative agencies, EACC, DCIA to take this matter with the urgency it deserves.”
