Shebesh confident of win as nine throw hats in ring
At least nine aspirants have expressed interest in the Nairobi woman representative seat in a contest that has been described as the battle of the beauties.
Incumbent Rachael Shebesh will face off with nominated MCA Wangui Ng’ang’a, Millicent Omanga, Mary Mudachi, Janet Ouko and Karen Nyamu for the Jubilee ticket during the party’s nominations on April 21.
Others in the race are businesswoman Esther Passaris, Mountain View MCA Beatrice Kwamboka, Carolyne Mayunzu and Rahab Ndambuki.
CLEAR THE AIR
Last week, Ms Shebesh was forced to clear the air on reports that she had been prevailed upon by Jubilee Party officials not to seek re-election. According to the reports, she had instead been assured of nomination to the Senate.
She, however, told a meeting of Nairobi women leaders that she would seek to retain her seat on a Jubilee ticket and expressed confidence she will win.
In the 2013 General Election, Ms Shebesh, then of TNA emerged victorious with 632,646 votes. Her closest challenger was ODM’s Minala Sylvia with 327,568 votes followed by Ms Passaris with 291,384 votes.
In a recent interview with the Daily Nation, Ms Shebesh said her development record spoke for itself.
“I have done a lot to improve the livelihood of youth, women and the disabled. I don’t think there is anyone – either in the Opposition or Jubilee, who can defeat me in the August polls,” she said.
Ms Shebesh said she had helped nurture youth talents through her Jenga Talanta initiative and also supplied sanitary pads to schools across the county for a year.
BRANDED AS A FAILURE
But her competitors have all branded her a failure, saying she has not been accessible to the city residents especially women.
Ms Ng’ang’a has especially been vocal against the incumbent whom she termed “a let down” during an interview immediately after Ms Shebesh announced that she would defend her seat last week.
“Nairobians are asking themselves a simple question, are they better off today than they were four years ago with her as their woman representative? Obviously not,” said Ms Ng’ang’a.
She said Ms Shebesh had been unable to guide women and youth on how to access Uwezo funds and procurement opportunities under the 30 per cent reserved for women, youth and the disabled.
“She has completely failed in articulating the President’s agenda in empowerment of women and youth, and for that, she does not deserve another term,” said Ms Ng’ang’a.
Ms Ng’ang’a, who has been aggressively reaching out to voters across the city county, said her decision to vie for the seat was a response to the failure by the incumbent to perform as expected.
“I am the right candidate for the job,” she told Sunday Nation while exuding confidence that she will emerge victorious, not only in the primaries, but also the General Election.
RESOURCES TRICKLE DOWN
She promised Nairobians that she will ensure resources trickle down to youth, women and other vulnerable groups to improve their livelihood.
Ms Kwamboka, on the other hand, is hoping that her close relationship with top ODM stalwarts will play out in her favour. She once served as the Nairobi County ODM women leader.
This, many of her allies argue, gives her an upper hand in the ODM nominations.
Ms Kwamboka said the seat was hers for the taking terming Nairobi an Opposition zone.
According to her, the Cord team failed to capture the seat in the last elections due to lack of a strong candidate.
“This time, things are different. I’m the right candidate to send Ms Shebesh home. I’m sure of clinching the party’s nomination and afterwards, will easily ride to Parliament,” she said.
USE BEAUTY TO WIN VOTES
Ms Kwamboka, whose slogan is “Mama Mashinani”, also dismissed the notion that women should use beauty to win votes, pointing out that aspirants should be judged by what they can do for the electorate.
“Aspirants should develop and sell their agenda to the voters. Beauty will not bring about development,” she said, adding that nothing can stop her march to the National Assembly. If elected, said the MCA, her agenda will be “empowerment, education and employment”.
Ms Nyamu has also mounted an aggressive campaign for the Jubilee ticket and says women and youth empowerment will be at the top of her agenda.
For Ms Ouko, improvement of education standards will be her main priority.
“We have more than 2.5 million children in slum areas across the city who cannot access education. This will definitely change during my tenure,” said the former Elimu Yetu Coalition director.
She said the position needed a tried and tested leader with the capacity to deliver on her promises. Ms Ouko appealed to the Jubilee to conduct fair nominations.