Bungoma County residents have raised concern over the projects of their Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga in the County since she was elected in 2017.
Callers on Mumbo FM 90.2 during Keakoloba show in a segment dubbed ERIPOTI raised an alarm as 90 % of callers claimed to have never seen her since they voted for her as their County MP in 2017.
Keakoloba is a Programme that is aired on Mumbo FM from 5pm-8pm from Monday to Friday, and on every Friday there is a segment called Eripoti where callers are involved in a discussion concerning the roles, what their elected leaders have done during the period they have been in office and whether they have accomplished the promises they made in 2017 or not, ranging from MCAs to Governors since they elected them.
In February, the discussion revolved around Members of County Assembly, in March the discussion was about Members of Parliament and this month (April) the discussion about Woman Reps has kicked off and will run up to the last Friday of April 2022.
In May, the discussion will be about Governors.
Remember the discussion is open to all callers and listeners from Western and Trans Nzoia Counties.
Today’s (Friday, 1st April) discussion revolved most in Bungoma County where majority of calls came from.
A first caller from Daraja Mungu said that since he voted for Mama County, he has never known what she has done for Bungoma people in the years she has been in office.
“I have never seen her since I voted for her in 2017, even I don’t know what she has done in the last years she has been in office,” a caller from Daraja Mungu in Kimilili constituency wondered
Another caller from Namutokholo in Sirisia constituency said that he only saw her once when she had gone to hunt for votes in the area and since then he has never seen her in any function even in a funeral.
“Personally, I saw her in 2017 when she was campaigning and up to date I have never seen her or heard about her, imagine I voted for her and she disappeared,” he regretted
Other two callers from Kituni and Mungakha in Webuye West said that they have never understood the roles of Mama County hence have never seen her too.
Another caller from Sirisia said that although Mama County is absent on the ground he once saw her distribute umbrellas to groups of women, though during her campaigns she used to say that once elected she would ensure that all women remove lessos in their handbags and instead keep money something he said that if his mother hears him say so they would differ since she still keeps her lesso in her handbag.
“Let us be honest, I saw Mama County give umbrellas to women groups in Sirisia but one thing that makes women and other people perceive her as dishonesty is what she promised about our mothers that they would no longer carry lessos in their hand bags and she never honoured her promise I think this is what makes people lose trust in her,” he affirmed. He added that Mama County’s projects are not tangible perhaps that is why many people do not feel her on the ground.
A caller from Napong’o in Kanduyi Constituency said that the Woman Rep seat is not of any importance as he alleged that Senator Wetangula made a mistake to bring Mama Catherine to Bungoma people since she is never seen anywhere. He added that it were better if the seat is scrapped off from the constitution since women have never benefited from it.
Other callers from Mwiyenga and Manafwa in Bumula and Webuye East constituencies respectively claimed that they only saw her photo on a ballot paper and voted for her and since then they have never seen her something they said even not to be knowing her.
“I only saw her photo and voted for her, honestly I have never seen Mama Catherine since 2017 even I don’t know her, she has never stepped here at Manafwa,” he said
“I come from Mwomo in Bumula constituency, since I saw Mama Catherine in 2017 at Lwanja when she came with Senator Wetangula and Governor Wangamati for campaigns up to date I have never seen her, I voted for her and this time round I won’t cheat that I will repeat the mistake,” stated a caller from Mwomo
“I come from Kimama in Mt. Elgon since I elected Mama Catherine I have never seen her I only heard that she was at Kimabole where she gave out tents to Women though I have never known exactly what her duties are, I am hearing that she still wants to be re-elected let her come out clearly and tell us what she has done,” he stressed
“One thing I love about mama County is her dress choice, sincerely she has several and fashionable. Let me advise her, let her not waste money this 2022 since we won’t elect her again, I saw a big lorry in 2017 that passed here at Bunjosi with her big photos campaigning for her, funny enough that lorry has started passing again, shall we vote for the lorry like what we did in 2017? If Senator Wetangula is still coming back with Mama Catherine let me assure him that this time round he won’t manage,” said a caller from Bunjosi in Webuye West constituency
Another caller from Tulumba in Bumula Constituency said that since he voted for her she has never seen her even for once.
“I just saw her during campaigns she used to frequent here in Bumula but since she was elected she has never stepped here again, let us not lie to ourselves, Mama Catherine has totally done nothing,” he affirmed
Questions people ask is what the role of County Women Representatives in Kenya is, to others, they are wasting taxpayers money and they do not understand their roles in parliament.
Some of the roles of Woman Rep is to promote the interests of women and girls within their counties and the country at large. This role involves coming up with laws and policies that specifically target women and girls. Through parliament, they should lobby and advocate for equity and equal opportunities for women and girls.
They should sponsor and engage in bills, motions, resolutions, and notices that aim to redress any disadvantage suffered by women and girls because of past or present discrimination. These laws should also work towards improving the status of women and girls to bridge the gap of gender inequality.
They also have a role to play in mobilizing residents in their counties to identify projects that women and girls can benefit from.
Parliament budgets for the Affirmative Action Social Development Fund for County Women Representatives. It is similar to the Constituency Development Fund.
These are some of the roles of Woman Reps in the county among others.