WOMEN ON THE MOVE Members of County Assembly of Kisumu 2013-2017 Kingdom of the Netherlands Women On The Move Members of County Assembly Kisumu 2013-2017 Women On The Move: Members of County Assembly of Kisumu 2013-2017 is a publication of the Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) with support from the Kingdom of Netherlands and Diakonia-Sweden. Association of Media Women in Kenya (AMWIK) Hse No. 6, Wendy Court, David Osieli Rd, Westlands. P.O. Box 10327-00100, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: + 254 020 4441226/ 0722 201958/0737201958 Fax: +254 020 4441227 Email: [email protected] Website: www.amwik.org © Association of Media Women in Kenya, 2014 ISBN 9966-7163-3-9 Editors: Lilian Juma & Jane Godia Design & layout: AMWIK Front Cover photos: Kisumu County Assembly, Nominated women MCAs (L-R) Carolyne Ogot, Salome Kamonya Lungafa, Lydia Atieno Ngege and Farida Ahmed Salim. Back Cover photos: (L-R) Women MCAs in consultation during Kisumu County Assembly proceedings. Kisumu County Assembly Speaker Anne Atieno Adul. Deputy Speaker and Central Kisumu Ward MCA Hon Pamela Apondi Omino. 2 • Women On The Move • Women Members of County Assembly of Kisumu • 2013-2017 Table of Contents 8/ Benter Akinyi Ogolla 43/ Nelly Beldinah Osok West Seme Ward, Seme Constituency Nominated 12/ Carolyne Awino Owen 47/ Nereah Akoth Okombo Kisumu North Ward, Manyatta B Ward, Kisumu West Constituency Kisumu East Constituency 16/ Caroliyne Awuor Agwanda 51/ Pamela Akinyi Adhiambo Nominated Nominated 19/ Carolyne Awuor Ogot 53/ Pamela Apondi Omino Nominated Central Kisumu Ward, Kisumu West Constituency 23/ Eunice Atieno Miruka Nominated 56/ Pamela Awuor Oyoo Nominated 26/ Farida Ahmed Salim Nominated 59/ Petronilla Achieng Omondi South East Nyakach Ward, 30/ Jane Atieno Omolo Nyakach Constituency Nominated 63/ Priscah Auma Misachi 34/ Lydia Achieng Odhiambo Kaloleni/Shauri Moyo Ward, Nominated Kisumu Central 37/ Lydia Atieno Ndege 66/ Salome Kamonya Lungafa Nominated Nominated 40/ Malin Akinyi Atieno 69/ Susan Adhiambo Omollo Kobura Ward, Nyando Constituency Nominated Women On The Move • Women Members of County Assembly of Kisumu • 2013-2017 • 3 Abbreviations/Acronyms ALGAK Association of Local Government LDP Liberal Democratic Party of Kenya Authorities of Kenya MCA Member of County Assembly AMWIK Association of Media Women in Kenya MP Member of Parliament NDP National Development Party FIDA-K Federation of Women Lawyers - Kenya ODM Orange Democratic Movement Party FPK Federal Party of Kenya PDP People’s Democratic Party IEBC Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission RPK Reform Party of Kenya KANU Kenya African National TNA The National Alliance Union Party TSC Teachers Service Commission KCWLC Kisumu County Women UDFP United Democratic Forum Party Leadership Caucus KEFEADO Kenya Female Advisory UNWomen United Nations Entity for Gender Organization Equality and the Empowerment of Women KICAWOCA Kisumu County Assembly Women Caucus UPDK United Disabled Persons of Kenya KIWASCO Kisumu Water Services Company URP United Republican Party 4 • Women On The Move • Women Members of County Assembly of Kisumu • 2013-2017 Foreword ince the promulgation of the Constitution and Mombasa. In these counties, several trainings Sof Kenya in 2010, more women have been were conducted for women aspirants and leaders elected and nominated to national and county with the goal of encouraging them to vie for level leadership positions. However, amid these elective positions. As a result, women came out developments, women aspiring for leadership and in large numbers to vie for parliamentary and decision-making positions continue to face great county assembly positions. barriers, a factor that has hindered achievement However, despite the high numbers, few women of equitable gender representation. made it through party nominations. AMWIK and This has necessitated more efforts towards the partners carried out further training for the empowering and supporting women to elected and nominated women leaders, to enable participate in politics and governance at the local them to participate effectively in leadership and and national levels. remain visible in the society. In an effort to inspire In January 2012, the Association of Media and encourage more women to go for leadership Women in Kenya (AMWIK), in collaboration positions, we celebrate women who have braved with the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) all odds to make it in politics by documenting Kenya and Diakonia Kenya, implemented the their journey to leadership. project, Building and Amplifying Women’s Kisumu County was chosen as a pilot project Voices in Political and Economic Development. for many reasons. Being Kenya’s third largest city The project aimed at promoting the inclusion of after Nairobi and Mombasa, Kisumu is a County women in the development process by challenging of many firsts. In 1969, Kisumu produced the undemocratic social, economic, cultural and country’s first elected female MP, Mrs. Grace political practices as well as structures that are not Onyango, who served in the Second Parliament favourable to the progress of women and girls. (1969-1974). Earlier in 1965, Onyango made Kisumu County was identified as one of the history as the first female mayor in East Africa ten priority areas together with Nairobi, Nakuru, when she was elected the Mayor of Kisumu Nyandarua, Kwale, Wajir, Isiolo, Kisii, Kericho (1965-1969). In 2006, Kisumu County was Women On The Move • Women Members of County Assembly of Kisumu • 2013-2017 • 5 designated the world’s first Millennium* City by help enhance the participation of Kenyan women UN-HABITAT. in political and public life, but also contribute Presently, Kisumu County has the highest towards eliminating barriers that continue to number of elected female MCAs under the new hamper women’s success in all fields. Constitution. In the March 4, 2013 General We anticipate that the political achievements Election, seven women - Pamela Apondi Omino, of elected and nominated female MCAs against Priscah Auma Misachi, Petronilla Apondi, Benter all odds will serve to demonstrate that women Akinyi Ogolla, Caroline Awino Owen, Nereah can do as well as men if given an opportunity to Akoth Okombo and Marlin Akinyi Atieno - were lead. We also hope the stories and experiences of elected members of the County Assembly in the MCAs will inspire more women to take up Kisumu. Another 12 women were nominated to leadership and change the long held perception the Assembly. among some electorate that politics is a preserve The Assembly is also the first in Kenya to have of men. an all-women duo of Speaker (Anne Atieno Adul) AMWIK and our partnering institutions and Deputy Speaker (Pamela Apondi Omino). will continue to sensitise Kenyans on women’s The minority whip is also a woman (Carolyne leadership as well as their achievements, Owen). The County has also been recognised as contribution and challenges in their journey to the most balanced assembly, with 19 female and leadership. This awareness should help nurture 30 male Members of the County Assembly, thus a society that appreciates and supports efforts meeting the two-thirds maximum threshold of towards achieving gender equity in Kenya. either gender to elective and appointive offices, as stipulated in the Constitution. Pamela Mburia, We hope that this publication will not only Chairperson, AMWIK *The Millennium Cities Initiative (MCI), a project of the Earth Institute (Columbia University), was founded in 2006 by world-renowned development economist Jeffrey D. Sachs to help selected, under-resourced municipalities across sub-Saharan Africa eradicate searing urban poverty and attain the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). MCI is helping 11 Millennium Cities in sub-Saharan Africa become viable and sustainable – each with distinct livelihood opportunities, improved access to public services and links both with the countryside and international markets. 6 • Women On The Move • Women Members of County Assembly of Kisumu • 2013-2017 Acknowledgements he Association of Media Women in Leadership Opportunities for Women). The TKenya (AMWIK) would like to thank funding for the project and for this booklet has all the women Members of County Assembly greatly enhanced the participation and visibility of Kisumu, who readily shared their journeys of women leaders in Kenya. to leadership. They openly spoke to us about We acknowledge the support and the role by their joys, frustrations, pains, achievements FIDA Kenya in the collaborative approach of and lessons that will inspire many generations building the capacity of women members of to come. We are truly indebted to you for your county assemblies in the 10 project locations. time and patience during this process. We specifically recognise the support of the Special gratitude to Lucy Githaiga (Diakonia Chief Executive Officer, Christine Ochieng, Kenya Country Programme Manager) and Fred Senior Programme Officer, Transformative Oundo (Programme Officer, Diakonia Kenya Justice team, Shiro Mogeni-Shilako and Country Programme), who provided technical Lorraine Ochiel for their input at various stages support to the project dubbed Building and of publication. Amplifying Women’s Voices in Economic We also thank Lilian Juma (Senior Programmes and Political Development. This publication Officer), for the overall coordination of this would not have been successfully completed publication, Jane Godia for editing the content, without their active contribution as well as the writers who included Lilian Juma, Benard the