Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa has resurfaced after a long period of silence following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
The ODM lawmaker alongside other Inua Mama team members lectured President Uhuru Kenyatta and former prime minister Raila Odinga on respecting their rights as women after Nakuru senator Susan Kihika was ousted from Senate leadership.
In a press conference at Parliament buildings on Thursday, May 14, Jumwa wondered why Kihika was removed from her plum position and replaced Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata, a man, noting they could not sit pretty and watch as they were trampled upon.
“As women leaders, we will not sit pretty, watching our rights in political parties and national leadership trampled upon. We urge State House and the Jubilee Party to protect the rights of women and safeguard the gains made in promoting gender equality. Previously as you all know, my party (ODM) also threatened to expel me but I stood ground and these women here fought for my rights,” Jumwa said.
As women leaders, we will not sit pretty, watching our rights in political parties & national leadership trampled upon. We urge the @StateHouseKenya & @JubileePartyK to protect the rights of women & safeguard the gains made in promoting gender equality.#IStandWithSusanKihika pic.twitter.com/SE1Wzcy55I
— Hon. Aisha Jumwa, Malindi MP. (@HonJumwa) May 14, 2020
Jumwa was accompanied by MPs Alice Wahome (Kandara), Beatrice Kones (Bomet East) and woman reps Tecla Tum (Nandi), Joyce Korir (Bomet) and Janet Chebaibai (Elgeyo Marakwet).
The legislators also expressed solidarity with five Jubilee senators whom the ruling party threatened to expel after they failed to attend a Parliamentary group meeting at State House on Monday, May 11.
“As party members and women leaders in Jubilee, we want to express solidarity with Senator Susan Kihika and all nominated senators served with show case letters by Raphael Tuju, the party SG. We reject and denounce the manner in which our party has selectively issued letters to women nominated senators who allegedly did not attend a Parliamentary Group meeting at State House.”
“Even assuming the process was right, why would our party PG purport to remove a woman chief whip and replace her with a male chief whip? What does this say about the treatment of women by our party?” they said in a statement by Wahome.
