The Team Embrace swept Mombasa yesterday with a section of women leaders claiming that Deputy President William Ruto was the biggest obstacle to constitutional reforms.
Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu led the onslaught on the DP, saying he has always stood against the popular will including the 2010 constitution which “he now purports to support.”
“He (Ruto) led the crusade to oppose the enactment of the new Constitution. He is now the loudest to oppose the push to change what we all agreed was to be rectified later,” said Ms Ngilu.
The more than 37 women leaders from different political parties concluded their two-day tour at the Coast where they reaffirmed their stand for constitutional reforms to create three seats at the top.
Mombasa Governor Hassan Ali Joho and Mvita MP Abdulswamad Nassir who addressed the rally, vowed to support the Embrace movement.
Joho said the handshake has created an environment to appraise the country’s political journey and fix triggers of tribal clashes every election cycle.
“The future of this country must be ingrained in long-lasting peace. We inherited a divided nation and it is now our time to fix it,” said the governor who criticised those engaging in early campaign.
He added: “The peace and unity currently being experienced in the country is priceless. But it is the right moment for a candid conversation on representation especially at the top.”
The Mombasa Governor said all regions must feel represented in top echelons of the country’s leadership to end chaos after presidential elections.
“In future every Kenyan must feel that he/she is represented in the government,” said Joho adding that Coast region will in future table demands before supporting anybody or party.
Kirinyaga Governor Ann Mumbi said she will not be threatened or intimidated to stop the push to expand the national executive.
“We cannot have a situation where two communities can conspire and capture power because of their numerical strength,” she said.
Mvita MP described those opposed to handshake as “enemies of the Kenyan people.” He also urged political leaders to stop early campaigns for the 2022 elections.
Embrace leaders reaffirmed their unequivocal support for the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and criticised the Punguza Mizigo Bill which proposes the scrapping of Women Rep seats.
“BBI should also make sure that one of the proposal is to make it obligatory to have a women in one of the three posts at the top,” said Ngilu.
The women leaders presented their eight-point proposal to the BBI team. Key among them the expansion of the national executive to include a Prime Minister and two deputies.
Before the rally, the team toured Coast Provincial General Hospital and rallied women to turn up for cancer screening that was organised by the group.
Others who addressed the rally are Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, Asha Hussein (Mombasa Women Rep) Dr Naomi Shaban (Taveta) Halakhe Abshiro (Senator), Sabina Chege (Murang’a Women Rep) Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Naisula Lesuda (Samburu West).
