The Nyeri County Senatorial race is between three bigwigs, but two are from the same coalition of parties.
The race pits first Nyeri Woman Representative Priscilla Nyokabi, vying on a Jubilee Party ticket, two-term Mukurwe-ini MP Kabando wa Kabando is running on Narc-Kenya party and former chairperson for Mathira National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) Wahome Mwangi is vying on a United Democratic Alliance ticket.
Kabando and Nyokabi are in the Azimio La Umoja coalition of parties.
This presents a crux and might be beneficial to the UDA party as Azimio will be splitting votes.
In Nairobi, such an issue was also a reality until long-term legislator Maina Kamanda decided to vacate the race by endorsing the fresh and exciting Edwin Sifuna.
Martha Karua should follow suit and end the stalemate in Nyeri, ask Kabando wa Kabando to step down, get his refund and let one formidable candidate carry Azimio’s flag in Nyeri senatorial race.
Why?
Priscilla Nyokabi is more sellable than Kabando wa Kabando in Nyeri. Kabando’s politics should be in parliament or at a more national level in the party not regional.
Why again?
Ms Nyokabi’s experience in legislation, working with women and children, working with the vulnerable in society (GBV issues), representing Nyeri as their Women Representative shows that she is the best suited for the role of senator.
Role of senator in Kenya
A Kenyan Senator role are representation, legislation, and oversight. They represent the people in the county as a whole and make laws that primarily concern counties.
The senator keeps the county leadership, governor and MCAs in check through supervision of development and other projects. Which is essentially providing oversight on how revenue that has been allocated to the county is spent.
The former Women Rep is best suited.
She was involved in the drafting of the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) regulations. NGAAF provides women all over the country with funds for development, from a Sh2 billion kitty.
Nyokabi also brings knowledge, expertise and experience having served as a member of the budget committee in the National Assembly.
“I understand the vertical sharing of resources between the national and county government and horizontal sharing among 47 counties through the county revenue allocation Act. I understand the formula and will engage actively to ensure the county gets its rightful share,” Priscilla Nyokabi said.
She sponsored the Access to Information Act 2016. The Act guarantees every Kenyan the right to seek access and obtain information from public bodies and private bodies acting in a public nature.
As the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) Vice Chair she was instrumental in the passage of Family Laws.
As Women Representative for Nyeri, Priscilla Nyokabi led in the establishment Gender Based Violence (GBV) desk in the Police Stations.
During her tenure as Women Rep, water and education projects benefitted much. Through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) she facilitated the following water projects; Njoguini Kabati Gitero water dam, Ngimaini Kiboya water dam, Kiawagaru Miiri water project, Ndathi Mbiriri and Gikanga water project, Kiawangaru Munyange water project, Kaigonji Aguthi Gaaki Water project among others
Cheerful and easy-going Nyokabi relates well with youths, women and men as evidenced from her works as a gender activist and even in videos of her interaction with the electorates. Her voice is clear as she educates the voters in the campaign trail on why she is the best candidate.
As a commissioner at the National Gender and Equity Commission, Nyoks as she is fondly referred to by the Nyerian championed for the implementation of the two-thirds gender rule.
Nyoks has pledged to move pro-devolution laws particularly in health to allow hospitals keep and spend their funds to enhance service delivery.
She uses her multi-tasking skills to listen to the priorities of the electorate.
Priscilla Nyokabi holds a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Nairobi.