The family of Narok women representative Soipan Kudate has endorsed her to run for the governor’s seat in the 2022 general elections. Maasai elders from the Kudate and Tuya families held a long day meeting at her home in Narok county in a bid to discuss her gubernatorial ambitions as the country gears up for changes in the constitution.
The family has since called on Kenyans to do away with archaic traditions and believes that a woman cannot be voted in when it comes to powerful positions pointing out the Tanzania’s new president Samia Suluhu Hassan has set a good example to the world that women can also handle highly esteemed positions of leadership across the world. The families spokes man Julias Kudate called upon Kenyans and especially the Maasai community to look keenly at the credentials of candidates and instead refrain from the gender debate.
He said Sopian has the capability to run for the competitive seat equally to the men pointing out that she is an empowered and learned person who has served in parliament.The Maasai elder urged Kenyans to follow Tanzania’s leadership insisting that Tanzania’s President Suluu Hassan has shown the world that women are capable of handling leadership positions. Lukas Kudate who is the family spokesman said the family has endorsed the women representative who has served in two parliaments to run for the gubernatorial seat.
He said old fashioned traditions have no place in the modern world as communities have accepted gender equality under the constitution. On her part, the aspiring governor Soipan Kudate expressed optimism that she will run for the seat despite being the first female to openly declare her interest in the seat that has been a preserve for men in the society.
Soipan who is the patron at the National government affirmative action funds assured Kenyans that she was able to utilize the 40 million shillings yearly kitty in the best way. She noted Narok county would greatly benefit from development as the county gets over 5 billion shillings under devolved funds adding that she will give a clear manifesto ahead of 2022. Soipan further added that the family is consulting widely for the running mate who will be announced at a later date. Other leaders who have expressed interest to succeed the current governor Samuel Ole Tunai include; Chief Administrative Secretary for Labor Patrick ole Ntutu, Principal Secretary in the ministry of Devolution Charles Sunkuli Narok, West MP Gabriel Tongoyo and Narok South MP Lemieni Korei.