Politicians told to keep off Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation polls

FROM LEFT: Nominated Member of Mombasa County Assembly Sarah Nyamvula, a member of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation, Nuru Said, and women’s rights activist Sureya Hersi consult during a meeting at Tononoka Hall in Mombasa yesterday. [PHOTO: OMONDI ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Mombasa, Kenya: Members of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation in Mombasa have warned politicians in the region against interfering in the upcoming elections.

They also want members holding political office not to vie for seats in the polls as it goes against the organisation’s constitution.

“It can never happen; a person cannot hold a public office and at the same time be a leader in the Maendeleo organisation. If one wants to seek a top job in Maendeleo, then they must give up their current posts,” former chairperson of the Mombasa Municipal Council Workers Margaret Ambassa.

The polls have already attracted top names in the region, some of whom ran for seats and lost in last year’s General Election. Some Members of Mombasa County Assembly have also expressed interest in some of the seats.

Local Organising Secretary Sarah Nyamvula, who is a nominated Member of the Mombasa County Assembly, is eyeing a national post.

She said she was not aware of a provision in the MYWO constitution prohibiting those holding public office from running for seats in the polls.

Stipulated fees

“I have perused the Maendeleo ya Wanawake constitution but I haven’t come across such as clause,” said Ms Nyamvula.

She said one only needs to be a life member of the organisation and pay the stipulated fees to qualify to run for a seat.

Mombasa MYWO chairperson Agnes Jillo said there was a plot by some politicians to sabotage the polls in the county.

This is the second time Ms Jillo has expressed concern that some politicians might want to field their own candidates so they can have “henchmen” in the organisation.

Yesterday, Jillo said MYWO’s agenda was women’s empowerment, not pursuit of political interests.

“Let the women have their own say about who they want to lead them. This is not a political contest,” she said during a meeting to strategise on the elections at the Tononoka Social Hall.

Afiya Rama, who is eyeing the local chairperson seat, said they would not allow anybody to impose leaders on them.

“We need women who transform other women. Previously, these elections used to be held in secret and politicians had a say regarding who should be elected. We should not allow this to happen,” said Ms Rama.