Kirinyaga governor Anne Waiguru's husband Kamotho Waiganjo recounted an incident where he was blocked from attending an event planned for spouses of county bosses.
Speaking during an interview on Spice FM on Tuesday, September 6, Waiganjo disclosed that the receptionists at the event expected to receive women given that the function was organised by the county's first ladies association.
The Kirinyaga first gentleman added that he attempted to explain that he was part of the association but his explanation was rejected.
"I went for a prayer meeting which was called by spouses of candidates for senators and governors. The lady who was at the gate refused to let me in. She told me that they only wanted to have women on that day.
"We really had a back and forth. It is a problem we have of internalising that women can be good leaders as men. They are good as men can be or better," he stated.
Additionally, he expressed that the incident motivated him to propose a change in the association's name as it was demeaning to both genders.
He explained that the first lady tag had an influence in the minds of voters, further affecting their decisions in the polls.
"There is an ideological problem because it was called the first ladies association because it assumes that the governors will always be men. That is why it is first ladies.
"It never prepares for the possibility that women can be elected as governors," he stated.
Waiganjo also expressed confidence in the country's evolution in gender representation given that seven women were elected as governors in the just concluded August 9 polls.
The Kirinyaga governor clinched the gubernatorial seat facing off with former woman representative Wangui Ngirici in a hotly contested race.
Waiguru and Waiganjo tied the knot in July 2019 at a private traditional ceremony that was attended by President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
