Society should accept the fact that when women are educated ,empowered and given a chance they can do great things.
These were sentiments by Bungoma County Deputy Governor Mrs. Janepher Chemtai Mbatiany during the Usemi wa Kina Mama show that runs every Wednesday on West FM hosted by Joan Wesakulila from 8pm-10pm.
Born in a humble background from Chemses village in Mount Elgon in a family of six being the fifth born, Mrs. Mbatiany insists on educating a girl child who will rise to greater positions in future and secure a bright future for the growing generation.
She says her journey as a leader started in her early age because she could be spotted doing activities that would encourage girls of her age and sometimes it earned her leadership positions.
She says being born when girls from her community were being circumcised and a high rate of school drop-outs, pushed her to fight more and achieve her dreams so that at one given point she could stop the barbaric exercise.
She says during her age she could assemble girls and women for advice and sensitize them on key matters while doing voluntary work in different organizations.
In 2013, she said she joined politics by trying to be considered as the Deputy Governor but failed and went back t her community serving , in 2017 she again tried but failed until 2022 when she finally landed the post.
As a woman she had so much in her heart, wanted to change perceptions about women leadership and also help those who are deeply affected in the grassroots but have no idea where to start from.
Mrs Mbatiany says that having looked at what was going on in the society, it motivated her that when given a chance she could do one or two things, the burden in society inspired her to go deeper to make sure she gets to where she dreamt of.
She also said she wanted to represent the interests of the minority and marginalized.
She says life as a politician has really changed because she was used to greeting everyone she meets, interacts and gets down to stories but anytime she wanted to was reminded of her post in the society.
She says society fears women in power but that shouldn’t discourage them from getting to where they want to be. She says those who say if a woman is given leadership will become rude and breed pride are just men with an inferiority complex and women should not let such blow their stars.
She says once a woman is empowered she can stand on her own as she discouraged culture that dictates women should be under men, saying women are good leaders with vision.
As a County government they are doing everything they can to make sure women are empowered through business, and through the Ministry of Trade and Energy they have managed to put lighting systems on markets to make sure women achieve the 24/7 hour economy.
She also thanked the Bungoma County Assembly for passing the climate change bill, and put a committee in place to make sure it’s rolled out.
She however says as a Deputy Governor the challenges are many owing to the people’s expectations who want her solve all their problems
She challenges any woman who wants to achieve what they want in life to keep on trying and never lose hope
