Former County Executive Committee Member Mary Amalemba has raised concerns over the effectiveness of women’s leadership in addressing challenges facing women at the grassroots level in Vihiga County.
Speaking during an interview at Vihiga FM, Amalemba said that although women have increasingly secured leadership positions across the country, more needs to be done to ensure that their leadership translates into meaningful and sustainable benefits for communities.
Amalemba, who previously served in the County Departments of Environment, Water, Energy and Natural Resources, as well as Public Service, Administration and Coordination of County Affairs, confirmed that she will contest for the Vihiga Woman Representative seat in the 2027 General Election. She previously vied for the position in both the 2017 and 2022 elections.
“I thank God for the journey so far, and I believe 2027 will be another opportunity to answer the call to serve,” she said.
She noted that while women have held influential positions such as governors, senators and members of parliament, the Woman Representative position, which was established to champion the interests of women, has not fully achieved its intended objectives.
According to Amalemba, many development initiatives targeting women have focused on short-term interventions rather than long-lasting solutions.
She cited the distribution of umbrellas to market traders as an example, arguing that such projects offer only temporary relief and fail to address the broader needs of women in business.
“Instead of spending public funds on temporary fixes, we should invest in durable market structures that can serve women for years,” she said.
On economic empowerment, Amalemba acknowledged that women in Vihiga are industrious and actively involved in income-generating activities.
However, she pointed out that limited access to capital remains a major obstacle, with many women forced to divert business funds to meet urgent family expenses such as school fees, hindering the growth of their enterprises.
Her sentiments were echoed by grassroots leader Martha Boge, who shared her transition from the police service to community leadership.
Boge said she opted to leave the service before retirement in order to focus on championing development initiatives at the grassroots level, inspired by opportunities created through devolution.
“As women, we must step forward and take up leadership roles to ensure our communities develop,” Boge said.
The two leaders emphasized the need for greater representation of women in elective positions across the county, noting that women remain under-represented compared to their male counterparts.
With the 2027 General Election drawing closer, discussions surrounding women’s leadership in Vihiga are expected to intensify, with increasing calls for leaders who prioritize sustainable development, economic empowerment and improved living standards for women at the grassroots level.
By Winstar Jaika
