A 24-year-old woman has defied all odds to defeat five men and emerge
victorious for the MCA seat in Kilibwoni Ward, Nandi County, Kenya.
Ms Cynthia Jepkosgei
vied as an independent candidate and shocked many in the Jubilee Party
stronghold after she emerged victorious with 8760 votes defeating her
closest competitor Wilson Kiptanui of Jubilee who garnered 8354 votes.
The
University of Nairobi graduate attributed her victory to low key
issue-based campaigns that directly targeted voters in their homes as
well as her determination despite multiple challenges.
“My mother
was surprised when she heard I was going to contest. I did not take part
in the Jubilee Party primaries since I had no funds to be cleared,” Ms
Jepkosgei told the Nation at her home.
MALE-DOMINATED
Her
mother, Ms Hellen Muge, said she tried in vain to convince her daughter
against joining the race since the male crowded field was not
convenient for her judging from the Nandi cultural beliefs.
“When
her father and I realised that she could not shelve her ambitions, we
decided to rally behind her until the last day when she clinched the
seat. We are happy she made it,” Ms Muge said.
The MCA-elect said
the campaign period was rough as some locals in the patriarchal society
dismissed her saying she could not be elected because she was an
unmarried woman.
HOUSE-TO-HOUSE
“I
soldiered on despite the discouragements, focussing more on daily
house-to-house campaigns while my campaigners focussed on public
rallies,” she said.
A total of six ladies (four from Jubilee Party
and two independent) were elected to the Nandi County Assembly while
men scooped the remaining 24 slots.
In Aldai Constituency, Nancy
Chemutai, a former radio journalist was elected to represent Kobujoi
ward on a Jubilee Party ticket while Magdaline Cheptoo, an independent
candidate, scooped the Koyo-Ndurio ward seat.
Other ladies who won
the county assembly elective seats in the region were Milka Jerobon
(Jubilee party) in Kipkaren ward, Rael Jeptoo (Jubilee party) in
Kapsimotwo ward and Jostine Chepnyango (Jubilee party) in Songhor/Soba
ward.
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