Narok North Gets First Ever Female MP

By John Kariuki

Agnes Pareyio Mantaine has gone against the gender jinx to become the first ever elected woman member of parliament in Narok North Constituency.

Pareyio was elected on a Jubilee ticket with 20,028 votes followed closely by Martin Kamwaro (Independent) who garnered 18,852 votes.

She has been fearless in denouncing female genital mutilation, an outdated and proscribed practice that had been deeply rooted in the pastoralist region.

Her win comes at a time when women leaders have been elected on a scale that has never been witnessed before now that for the first time Kenya has seven elected Governors and a sizeable number of women legislators.

The gender agenda has been gaining momentum in a previously male dominated society.

“First of all is to thank the people of Narok North for believing in me. I also thank my competitors for conceding defeat. I’m particularly happy that in this House women have been elected in a big way more than ever before.”

She hailed the fact that women have come out to claim their space in leadership through Participation in the national agenda and called upon them to continue vying for elective seats especially in order to achieve the two thirds gender principle.

As a warrior for gender equality, Pareyio said she is ready to defend the girl child against outdated cultural practices such as FGM and early marriages.

I will make sure I continue advocating for girl child education and I will personally be a role model to other girls and women that women can make it.

And as the nation awaits for the supreme court verdict, Pareyio called for People to maintain peace and calm just as they have done since the declaration of presidential results.