Uhuru endorses Martha Karua as Kenya’s next Deputy President

President Uhuru Kenyatta has endorsed the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition running mate Martha Karua as Kenya’s next Deputy President.

Speaking during the 59th Madaraka Day State address celebrations at Uhuru Gardens, the president gave his endorsement by reiterating his commitment to equality and inclusivity of women in leadership.

“In August this year, if it is the wish of the electorate, we have a chance of a woman shattering the glass ceiling by assuming the second highest office in our Republic, the Office of the Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya. If our women were part of the liberation struggle, advancing their course intentionally is a duty we owe them and ourselves as a country. And I am, indeed, proud to have been part of this push for women leadership in our Republic,” said the president.

Uhuru: My govt has been committed to equality and inclusivity. One of the three arms of govt, Judiciary, is now headed by a woman, CJ Martha Koome. Going Forward, Kenyans have a chance of electing the first female deputy president come August. ^RW #MadarakaDay pic.twitter.com/WqgzwprlsP

— KBC Channel1 News (@KBCChannel1) June 1, 2022

The head head of state also went ahead to note that in his cabinet he has had the privilege of working with 11 women.

“In our efforts to foster inclusivity and gender parity, the one thing I am proud of is how we have built women leadership and expanded their fields of participation in governance. For a long time, women affairs were relegated to the Department of Social Services; where they were grouped with children and persons living with disabilities. In fact, the first woman to be appointed as a Permanent Secretary happened 24 years after independence. Margaret Githinji was appointed the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Industry on Maradaka Day of 1987. And thereafter, the first woman to become a Cabinet Minister was Hon. Nyiva Mwendwa. This happened 32 years after independence, in 1995,” said the president.

“Today, and thanks to the 2010 Constitution and my commitment to equality and inclusivity, I have had the pleasure of working with eleven women in My Cabinet, at different times and in different capacities. All of them have occupied high-profile portfolios. In fact, all the Cabinet Secretaries for Foreign Affairs for the last 9 years have been women,” added the president.

He also noted that his administration has fast tracked the promotion of women in leadership in the security sector.

“ I appointed Fatuma Ahmed, as the first woman Major-General of our Defence Forces in 2018. Similarly, the first female holder of the constitutional office of Auditor-General of our Republic was appointed under My Administration. Mrs. Nancy Gathungu, appointed in 2021, continues to serve the Republic in that capacity.,” said the head of state.

“And of course, one of the three arms of government is now headed by a woman. After 58 years of independence, in May 2021, I had the profound honour of being the first President of the Republic to commence an address with the salutation “Madam Chief Justice”, when the Hon. Lady Justice Martha Koome assumed office as the first woman Chief Justice,” noted the president.

He said he was also proud of the fact that Kenya’s Judiciary boasts a female Deputy Chief Justice, a female Chief Registrar, and many female Principal Judges and Presiding Judges across Kenya’s superior courts.