Female deputy governors set sights on county top seats in 2027

By  Kamau Maichuhie

Gender Reporter

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

• With just 10 women elected governor in three election cycles, they say the time for 'sitting quietly' is over.

Since devolution began in Kenya in 2013, only 10 women have been elected as county governors across three election cycles:  2013, 2017 and 2022. The low number stems from a combination of deeply rooted structural, financial and cultural barriers.

That number could rise, however, if announcements by some of the current serving female deputy governors that they will have a stab at governorship are anything to go by.

During a recent meeting held in Nairobi, Prof Grace Cheserek, the deputy governor of Elgeyo Marakwet, announced that she will contest the county's top seat. 

Prof Cheserek will challenge her boss, Wisley Rotich, who is also expected to defend the seat on a United Democratic Party ticket.

Rotich, who is serving his first term, was elected governor of Elgeyo Marakwet in the 2022 General Election, succeeding Alex Tolgos.

"I want to make it clear that I will vie for Governor of Elgeyo Marakwet in the 2027 General Election," said Prof Cheserek.

There has been a simmering rift between Governor Rotich and his deputy, which spilled into the open in August after she confronted him over a public snub. 

The two county leaders clashed during the launch of the translated Marakwet Bible in Tot, Marakwet East, on August 1 in the presence of Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and several governors and MPs.

The confrontation erupted after Rotich introduced members of his county executive and other officials before inviting Kericho Governor Eric Mutai to speak without acknowledging his deputy. A visibly upset Cheserek rose from her seat, took the microphone and challenged the governor.

"Governor, you should stop demeaning me. I am your deputy governor, and you should introduce me as such. You should just say that you are with your deputy," she said.

The governor responded that it was not yet time to introduce his deputy, but Cheserek proceeded to address the gathering, thanking the Marakwet community for translating the Bible into their language. The unexpected exchange stunned residents and leaders, who watched quietly as the disagreement between the two county leaders unfolded.

Prof Cheserek also waded into the issue of having a female running mate for the leading presidential candidate.

"We were promised that in 2027, the deputy president seat will be reserved for women. We want to speak with one voice so that we can get that seat," she said.

Bungoma race

Her Bungoma counterpart, Jennifer Mbatiany, has also declared her candidacy to become the county's next governor. Mbatiany said the time has come for her to lead the county, having been deputy for the last five years.

"I have been sitting there quietly as the deputy governor, but now I want power. I want to lead from the front as the next governor of Bungoma," said Mbatiany.

Mbatiany is serving her first term as deputy governor under Governor Lusaka, who is serving his second and final term. In 2013, Lusaka had signalled that he would nominate her as his running mate, but Bukusu elders protested her impending naming for the position.

"The elders went and told our candidate that there was no way that he would name a woman as his running mate, as according to Bukusu culture, 'a woman was not allowed to occupy a new house' (in relation to the new county). It was a major blow for me and my political ambitions.”

A gender activist for many years, Mbatiany said she was even more devastated after the elders told their candidate that they would only support his gubernatorial bid as long as he did not pick a woman as his deputy.

Mbatiany is expected to battle it out for the gubernatorial position with other aspirants who have already thrown their hats in the ring. The race to succeed Governor Kenneth Lusaka is shaping up to be highly competitive, with a mix of seasoned national politicians and local leaders. Already, Kimilili MP Didmas Barasa and his Westlands counterpart Tim Wanyonyi have declared their candidature for the top county seat. Wycliffe Wangamati, the former governor, also remains a notable factor in the race as he targets a political comeback, asking voters to re-elect him so he can complete the development projects initiated during his 2017–2022 administration.

Nandi contest

In Nandi County, Dr Yutila Chebotip Mitei, who has deputised Governor Stephen Sang for the last ten years, has also officially declared her bid for the gubernatorial seat. She says her extensive leadership experience over nearly a decade has fully prepared her to take over the county's top job.

"I am anchoring my campaign on continuity, stability and my deep understanding of the unique developmental challenges facing Nandi County, having served as the deputy for the last ten years," Dr Mitei said recently.

An interesting political landscape is unfolding as Dr Mitei hails from Mosop Constituency,  the same area as the current Nandi County Woman Representative, Cynthia Muge, who has also thrown her hat into the ring for the governorship.

The race to succeed Governor Sang has already attracted several heavyweight contenders, including Allan Kosgey, Tinderet MP Julius Melly, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei and former Nandi County Assembly Speaker Joshua Kiptoo.

Call for women to back women

Nominated MP Sabina Chege backed the women and called on them to go for any political seats they wished.

"As women, a time has come for us to support ourselves. If you are a woman and do not support any of those women who are vying for the various political seats, please keep quiet. We now have the women tribe, and we can use it to propel our fellow women to political office," said Sabina.

Kisii Woman Representative Dorice Ndonya stressed the need to dismantle political barriers for women ahead of the 2027 elections. She noted that in Kisii, for example, a woman has never been elected as an MP, senator or governor since independence.

"As women, we have to, at this time, support each other. I want to call upon all women to camp in their constituencies and drum up support for women running for various seats," said  Ndonya.