Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia was the subject of indignation and shock earlier this month after she went public with her support for beleaguered Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru.
Many Kenyans were upset that she had come out to play the gender card when defending Waiguru who is facing an impeachment motion in the senate.
A section of Kenyans wondered why she hadn’t used the same argument when to come to the aid other female politicians like Susan Kihika and Cecily Mbarire who had also gone through their own political struggles.
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The CS went silent for a few days and is now back, defending her position saying that it was part of her Ministry’s mandate;
“When Governor Waiguru was impeached I just demanded due process and I can see that it is being executed through the Senate where she will be given an opportunity to be heard. She was not heard at the county level. I’ve seen MCAs in Kitui are gathering signatures to impeach Governor Ngilu, what does that tell you? It tells you that women in leadership are an easy target,” she explained.
Meddling in politics
When asked whether her sentiments on the matter contradicted with her role in government, Prof. Kobia explained that more needed to be done to encourage women to take up leadership positions.
