Ngilu launches presidential bid

By Standard Digital Reporter

Narc Presidential hopeful Charity Ngilu at KICC (Photo:Tabitha Otwori/Standard)

Water minister Charity Ngilu on Sunday launched her presidential bid on the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) in a function held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).

This will be Ngilu’s second stab at the presidency. In 1997, Ngilu made history by becoming the first substantial female presidential candidate in Kenya. She emerged fifth. The other candidate was the late Prof Wangari Maathai.

She now becomes the second female presidential candidate after Gichugu MP Martha Karua of Narc Kenya.

In her manifesto, Ngilu said if elected, her government would ensure Kenyans enjoy the benefits of their produce. She highlighted that imports of commodities produced in the country as part of the things to be abolished to improve the country’s economy.

"We are importing farm produce from other countries yet we produce the same in Kenya, who is benefitting from these imports?" she asked.

Among them are livestock products like eggs, vegetable oil and sugar.

She categorically stated that if a country like China is to be offered contracts in Kenya, then it should in return import livestock products (eggs) from the country.

She stated unnecessary importation of sugar produce from Brazil as making Kenyan farmers poorer.

"We buy sugar from Brazil, yet we have sugar factories in Kenya, what has happened to them?" she asked.

Ngilu who has been vocal on matters of maternal health care also noted that she would ensure no woman would die while giving birth.