President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday challenged Kitui governor Charity Ngilu to be the first woman President by urging women to vote for one of their own.
Ngilu, or mama Ngilu as she is fondly called by her people had said that Kenyan men are not ready for women presidents.
“Unajua Mkiangalia data ya Kenya. Unajua akina mama nyinyi ndiyo wengi. Sasa mnalaumu nani jameni na ni nyinyi mnapiga kura? It will not be a bad thing to have a woman president because a woman looks after more than herself”
Earlier on the president had said that he plans to use his Huduma Namba to get his pensions when his term ends, so people like Ngilu can take over.
Uhuru further dismissed some of the myths around the Huduma Namaba registration:
“Ni namba ya shetani…Wengine wanasema utatolewa damu…Wengine wanasema kama wewe ni mzee na una mpango wa kando mtoto atajua baba yake ni nani”
He said concerns about the security of data collected will be solved through a bill:
“There are concerns on data privacy and misuse. We are putting in place necessary legal safeguards. Currently, a bill is being drafted to address these concerns…” said Uhuru.
Ngilu became the first female presidential candidate, along with the Late Wangari Mathai in the 1997 General Elections. She finished a distant 5th behind eventual winner Daniel Arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Raila Odinga and Michael Wamalwa.
Uhuru’s decision to ask Martha Karua to vie for Presidency will be seen as a betrayal by the Tanga Tanga team especially as he is yet to endorse his Deputy William Ruto.