Writing History: 7 women clinch governor seats
For the first time in Kenya’s history, we’ll have seven women at the helm of county governance, the highest number since the implementation of the devolved system of government in 2013. This is a small but significant improvement compared to 2017 when 3 women were elected governors.
Fatuma Achani won the Kwale governor seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket defeating ODM’s Hamadi Boga who came in second. Achani was Kwale’s deputy governor under Salim Mvurya whom she thanks as her mentor. She becomes the first female governor in the coast region.
Meru’s Kawira Mwangaza has trounced both Mithika Linturi of UDA and Kiraitu Murungi to clinch the Meru gubernatorial seat. Kawira beat the odds getting 209,148 votes against her Linturi, who got 183,859 votes.
Wavinya Ndeti has been declared the governor-elect of Machakos county on her third trial. Ndeti was running on a Wiper party ticket garnering 226, 609 votes beating her closest challenger, Nzioka Waita of CCU who had 129, 181 votes.
Anne Waiguru successfully defended her Kiriyaga governor seat on a UDA ticket beating her closest rival Wangui Ngirici, an independent candidate. Waiguru garnered 113,088 votes beating outgoing woman representative Wangui Ngirici who got 105,677 votes.
Former Runyenjes MP Cicily Mbarire has won the Embu governor race beating DEP’s Lenny Kivuti. Mbarire got 108,610 votes against her closest contender Kivuti who had 105,246 votes. She becomes Embu’s second governor and the county’s first female governor.
Glady’s Wanga floored politician Evans Kidero to become Nyanza region’s first female governor. Wanga garnered 244,559 votes against Kidero’s 154,182 votes clinching the Homa Bay governor seat. The hotly contested race attracted 3 candidates. The third candidate, UDA’s Mark Raundi got 1,244 votes.
Susan Kihika won the race to manage Nakuru county becoming its third governor on a UDA ticket beating 9 other contestants. Kihika beat Nakuru’s incumbent governor Lee Kinyanjui to become the second female governor in the Rift Valley region.