ODM: The Women to watch

A picture of perhaps the stiffest nomination contest ever emerged last night as ODM published the final list of aspirants who will fight it out for the party parliamentary and civic slots countrywide.
Billed as the most hotly contested primaries since Kenya went multi-party in 1992, the contest is a crowded affair in the party's bedrock regions.  Women are however claiming their stake in the ODM parliamentary nominations slated for Friday.

Forty-eight women aspirants are seeking the ODM nomination. Nyanza leads the pack with 14 women aspirants, while North Rift follows with 13. South Rift has eight, Western and Nairobi five each while Coast has three.
Pentagon member, Mrs Charity Ngilu, who will vie on a Narc ticket, will not be opposed by an ODM aspirant in her Kitui Central constituency.

Eldoret-East leads with the highest number of women aspirants that include advocates and scholars.

Leading the race for the seat are Ms Mary Juster Mitei, Prof Margaret Kamar, Ms Leah Cheptanui and Ms Florence Ayabei. “We no longer want to play passive roles in politics. I’m confident that most of us will win the elections. We have mounted high profile campaigns and have the support of the constituents,” Mitei said.

Top women scholars and technocrats in the race are Mrs Sally Kosgey (Aldai), Prof Hellen Sambili, Dr Benadette Tiony (Emgwen), Ms Tabitha Seii (Keiyo South), Prof Christine Mango (Butula), Ms Hellen Yego (Cherangani) and Prof Jacqueline Oduol of Alego Usonga.

Rachael Chebet Yegon and Edna Cherono Bore will be fighting it out with 12 other contenders in Bureti. In Kuresoi, with 8 other contenders, Liza Chepkorir will be keen to get the ODM nomination ticket Laikipia East’s Jeniffer Kihuro will fight it out with John Pamita Letai while in Sotik, Lorna Lubaso will fight it out with 10 other ODM aspirants.

In Rift Valley province other ODM female parliamentary aspirants include Joyce Chepkemboy of Marakwet East, and Elizabeth Chemboi and Veronica Suter in Marakwet West. In Keiyo South, we will also be looking out for Cheruiyot Jepkosgei.

From Nyanza we have Jacqueline Oduol in Alego Usonga who is the Chair person Orange Women’s League in ODM, Consolata Yamboand Carol Omondi of Gwassi, Jane Akongo and Mary Ouma who will be among the 17 candidates in Kasipul Kabondo while Kisumu Town West will be Grace Woigo, Rozaah Buyu and Juliet Akinyi.

Other women to watch are Florence Ogur (Nyatike), Agnes Awinja (Rongo), Alice Ondutu (Lugari), Betty Shikanga (Ikolomani), Frida Nyalianya (Kimilili), Roselinder Simuyu (Webuye), Beatrice Mwarunga (Kaloleni), Janet Mbete (Likoni), Ruth Lelewu (Taveta), Esther Tole (Voi), Siele Chepkemoi (Bomet), Caroline Ruto (Chepalungu), Liza Chelule(Kuresoi), Alois Lentoimaga (Samburu West), Gladys Koske (Sotik), Violet Okinda (Dagoretti), Grace Yimbo (Embakassi), Diphrose Matengo (Embakassi), Elizabeth Masha (Kasarani), Roseline Okumu (Kasarani), Ruth Cheruiyot (Starehe), Beatrice Askut (Turkana North), Catherine Okumu (Saboti), Leah Nyangwaria (Eldoret East) and Peris Chepchumba ( Eldoret South).

Agens Awinja Okong'o Constituency- Rongo See Profile	Beatrice Mwaka Mwarunga Constituency-Kaloleni See Profile	Betty Busiega Shikanga Constituency-Ikolomani See Profile
Bishop Margaret Wanjiru Constituency-Starehe	Caroline Cherotich Ruto Constituency -Chepalungu See Profile	Consolata Yambo Constituency - Gwassi See Profile
Diphrose N. Matengo Constituency-Embakassi See Profile	Edna Cherono Bore Constituency -Buretii See Profile	Elizabeth O. Masha Constituency- Kasarani
Florence M. Ayabei Constituency- Eldoret East See Profile	Florence Sylvia Ogur Constituency-Nyatike See Profile	Prof. Hellen J. Sambili Constituency-Mogotio
Hellen J.C. Yego Constituency- Cherangany See Profile	Jacquline Adhiambo Oduol Constituency - Alego Usonga See Profile	Jane Achieng Constituency- Kasipul Kabondo See Profile
Jane A. Akendo Constituency- Rongo See Profile	Janet N. Ekumbo Mbete Constituency-Likoni See Profile	Juliet Akinyi Constituency -Kisumu Town West See Profile
Liza Chepkorir Chelule Constituency - Kuresoi See Profile	Martha Jemunge Chelal Constituency-Baringo East	Mary J. C. Mitei Constituency- Eldoret East See Profile
Rachael Chebet Yegon Constituency-Bureti See profile	Roselinder Simiyu Constituency-Webuye See Profile	Rozaah Akinyi Buyu Constituency - Kisumu Town West
Sally J. Kosgei Constituency- Aldai See Profile	Ms. Seth K. Mutua Constituency-Kibwezi See Profile	Stephanina Ciamati Constituency-Nithi See Profile
Violet Luvandwa Okinda Constituency- Dagoretti See Profile