K24 news anchor Anne Kiguta on Sunday, June 14 addressed the looming impeachment motion in the Senate against Kirinyaga Governor Ann Waiguru.
Delivering an editorial comment, Kiguta warned against blindly supporting Waiguru because she was a woman. She called for due process to be followed to determine her fate.
Kiguta slammed Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Margaret Kobia for putting out a statement in defence of Waiguru which blamed her woes on opposition to strong women in leadership.
She argued that supporting Waiguru simply based on her gender would erode gains made by women in Kenya over many decades.
Kiguta alluded to the sentiments of her guest, Rosemary Odinga, who had earlier in the show called for issues of gender to be detached from Waiguru's impeachment.
"What is clear is that Waiguru appears not to have earned the collective trust of many women. So tonight, in this divided pool of opinion, we are guided by the wisdom of our guest Rosemary Odinga, that we cannot afford to focus on a tree and lose sight of the forest.
"Our gender cannot be the excuse to shield what is abhorrent in our politics. We have set laws for ourselves, due process, standards by which we want to be governed and that is irrespective of the gender of our leaders.
"Convening bodies such as the Ministry of Gender must not be converted into a cheering squad for any single individual, but rather always be seen to support the whole," Kiguta asserted.
She questioned why Kobia could not focus on other issues affecting women such as the case of Mercy Cherono who was tied to a motorbike and dragged by police after her arrest, sparking an uproar.
She warned Kobia that issuing a statement backing Waiguru gave the impression that defending her was the government's biggest priority.
Kiguta called for women not to be drawn into what she described as political side-shows, but rather to work towards fortifying gains achieved in the 2010 Constitution such as the two-thirds gender rule.
"Many people have rightly wondered, where was the statement on the plight of women and children who were part of the 5,000 residents of Kariobangi who had their houses demolished in the middle of the night during the Covid pandemic and amid heavy rains? Where was the outrage from the ministry then?
"Where was the statement when, just in the last two weeks, women leaders have been attacked by goons hired by their male competitors?
"Where is the statement on the rising cases of Gender Based Violence in the country or where was the statement when Mercy Cherono was tied to a motorcycle, dragged on the road and beaten by law enforcement?" she posed.
Kiguta went on to list the names of several Kenyan women who have excelled in various fields including academia, business and governance.
Watch Kiguta's editorial comment below:
