An unmarried Member of Parliament has asked his colleagues and other leaders to respect him as an elected leader despite his marital status.
Emurua Dikirr MP, Johanna Ng'eno said that though marriage was important, it was not his agenda at the moment as he was focused on working for his constituents.
Ng'eno who is in his mid 40s, further stated that his constituents knew that he was not married when they elected him to Parliament in 2013, hence faulted other politicians using his marital status as a campaign issue.
“Their priorities are misplaced. No one should be bothered that I have no wife,” he added.
The lawmaker's sentiments come amid pressure from other elected leaders and elders who told him to get married or forget re-election in next year's General Election
It is reported that Council of Elders Chairman in Trans Mara Sub-County, Alexander Kosgei said that according to their community's culture, it was mandatory for a leader to be married, adding that in the past polygamy was encouraged among leaders.
“The basis of good leadership is a family. You cannot be a good leader when your house is not in order,” Mr. Kosgei said.
The MP and Narok Governor Samuel Tunai have in the past been at loggerheads with Mr Ng'eno who criticised his government for failure to deliver on its election promises.
Governor Tunai rubbished Ng'eno's criticism telling him to “get married first before commenting on county issues”. The Governor further warned the MP to “tread carefully since we are going to deal with him politically”.
