Gladys Shollei Slams Martha Karua, Azimio Over Sabina Chege Remarks
She called for Raila to accord respect to Chege, who had heavily participated in campaign rallies for Raila...
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National Assembly Deputy Speaker, Gladys Shollei on Tuesday, February 14 took on the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya coalition regarding its anti-President William Ruto public rallies which have gone to the extent of attacking women leaders.
In a statement she shared on her social media pages, Shollei noted that she could not ignore the vile remarks by the coalition under party leader, Raila Odinga, which had especially concentrated on nominated Member of Parliament (MP) Sabina Chege, fighting the strong urge to issue public comments regarding the rallies.
She called for Raila to accord respect to Chege, who had heavily participated in campaign rallies for Raila in the run-up to the general elections, while bashing him for the remarks made during the Machakos Rally on Friday, February 10.
Gladys Shollei speaking in Naivasha on February 10, 2023. /GLADYS SHOLLEI
"After the huge political and personal sacrifices that our sister Sabina Chege made for Azimio in the last election season, the least she deserves from ODM party leader Raila Odinga is respect, not the unprintable insults he hurled at her during Machakos Rally on Friday.
"No Kenyan deserves to be subjected to such crude insults even by a mad person, let alone by a Statesman of Raila's stature," she stated in part.
Shollei further singled out former Azimio running mate Martha Karua for watching on and tolerating the leaders hurling the remarks at the women leaders, calling upon her to stop the coalition from turning the rallies into events where women are insulted and demeaned to extremes.
The deputy speaker further accused the men in the Azimio coalition of showing no mercy to every women leader in their attacks, expressing fear that they could spread their vile to women across the country.
"It is unacceptable and appalling what Azimio rallies are degenerating into with our Big Sister Hon Martha Karua watching and condoning the happenings in this theatre of the absurd. At the very least, we ask Hon. Martha Karua to put her foot down and refuse this wanton attempt to turn AZIMIO events into a place where women leaders are insulted, demeaned and subjected to mean-spirited name-calling and uncalled-for sexual innuendos.
"It is sad but true to note that Azimio Boys Club is targeting every woman leader and is determined spare to none in their shameless campaign. If they can insult their own Deputy Minority Leader Hon Sabina Chege who is the highest ranking woman leader in Azimio today, one wonders what they are prepared to do to the Proverbial Wanjiku," she added.
Turning to Mumias East Member of Parliament (MP) Peter Salasya, Shollei slammed him over remarks threatening to impregnate Bomet Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir alias Toto after she hit out at Raila over the protest rallies.
"If ODM Deputy Party Leader Hon Oparanya can countenance Young Hon Peter Salanya threatening the Youngest MP in Kenya and Bomet Women Rep Hon Linet Chepkorir Toto, are our girls safe? When Senior ODM Leaders led by Raila Odinga insult women leaders in broad daylight and watch as Young Leaders like Hon. Peter Salanya threaten rape Women Leaders, we are heading in the wrong direction," she went on.
On behalf of women leaders, Shollei called on the opposition to be measured in their comments and attacks against fellow women leaders inclusive of Chege, whether in their camp or in the Kenya Kwanza camp.
"We have come too far in the question of Gender Equality in this country, nobody should think we will fold our hands and let them reverse the gains we have made as women to be treated equally and with respect by all Kenyans including our esteemed leaders.
"We will take the unfortunate statement of the Former PM Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga as a slip of the tongue and urge him to correct the impression he may have created by apologizing immediately to our sister Hon Sabina Chege," she added.
Sabina Chege was subject to criticism by the Azimio coalition, with suspended Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni revealing on Sunday, February 12 that he ordered MPs elected under Azimio to begin stripping her of her position as the Deputy Minority Whip of the National Assembly (NA) when the NA proceedings resume on Tuesday, February 14.
Chege was nominated to the National Assembly after shelving her gubernatorial ambitions before the 2022 General Election and was among the Jubilee leaders who had joined President William Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza faction for a thanksgiving service in Nakuru County on Sunday.
During the meeting, the Leader of the Majority in the NA Kimani Ichung'wah assured her that she would not lose her seat for dumping Azimio, under party leader Raila Odinga, to work with the current government.
Meanwhile, Shollei compelled Salasya to apologize to Toto and the women of Kenya, especially victims of sexual violence, and refrain from making careless statements in future.
