Grudge led to Juma rejection, says former MP

Discrimination against women is the main reason MPs rejected President Uhuru Kenyatta's nominee for Secretary to the Cabinet Monica Juma, former Karachuonyo MP Phoebe Asiyo has said.

Addressing journalists in Homa Bay town, Mrs Asiyo said the MPs are hiding something in their endeavours to deny Dr Juma the job.

"What can make somebody fail to secure a job opportunity is if she fails to meet educational requirements or has a criminal record. But this case is unfortunate because Monica has all the required academic credentials yet she was still denied the opportunity," she said.

She claimed that the MPs who voted against Juma were motivated by "tribalism or personal vendetta".

"Let our MPs who voted against Monica come out clearly and tell us the main reason why they rejected her," she said.

She said President Uhuru Kenyatta should advise the MPs to change their attitude.

The former lawmaker argued that the MPs were driven by male chauvinism to deny Juma a chance to be the first women to be the Secretary to the Cabinet.