The newly inaugurated Kwale County Governor Fatuma Achani has promised to deliver on her campaign pledges and economically empower the people.
Governor Achani said that she is ready to form an all-inclusive county government that would create jobs, secure the county and ensure the welfare of the people.
She said her administration would be accountable and always endeavor to involve the citizens in all its plans and programs.
“Together with my Deputy Governor Josephat Kombo we hope to keep our promises and serve our people selflessly and wholeheartedly,” she said.
The new county boss is Coast region’s first female Governor taking over from former Governor Salim Mvurya who has retired after serving two terms allowed under the constitution.
Achani the county’s second governor served under former governor Mvurya as Deputy Governor since the advent of devolution in 2013.
She reiterated her plans to prioritise girl-child education in the county.
“I will focus on the girl-child education because it is one of the most critical areas of women empowerment,” she said, adding that she will enhance the county’s Sh. 450 million scholarship programme.
Achani under the platform of UDA party garnered 59,674 votes to beat her closest rival Prof. Hamadi Boga of ODM party who polled 53,972 votes to come second in the August 9 2022 general elections.
She commended the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for the transparent manner it conducted the polls and also the security agencies for maintaining peace and order.
Speaking in Kwale town during a thanksgiving fete Achani pledged to work tirelessly for the good of all the people irrespective of gender, social status, ethnicity, religion or political affiliations.
The governor also enjoined her competitors in the gubernatorial poll to join hands with her to build a more prosperous county.
“I salute my fellow contestants for putting up a brave fight as the campaign has helped us to sharpen our focus on some of the important issues affecting our people,” she said, adding that it was now time to move on and deliver for the people.
She said the elections were now over and it was time to ‘bury the hatchet’ and close ranks for the greater good of the county and its inhabitants.
Achani called on all the county elected leaders to join forces with her to build a great and economically strong county.
“The success of our county does not depend on the governor and the county staff alone but on all residents,” she said.
Her sentiments were echoed by Ramadhan Bungale who contested and lost the Matuga parliamentary seat in the August polls.
Bungale, a former County Executive for Culture, Social Services and Talent Management said the county is superior to all other interests.
“As leaders we must subordinate our personal ambitions to that of the entire county and country at large,” he said.
Achani also urged the womenfolk to go for elective and leadership positions instead of waiting for party nominations and appointments.
Governor Achani who ran for the governorship post against six male contestants in the just concluded general election said its high time women shunned the overreliance on nominations and face it off with men for elective and other leadership positions.
Achani dismissed nomination slots dished out by political parties and formations during elections as ‘tokenism’ that was not a lasting solution to increase women’s representation in decision-making levels in the country.
She advised women to work hard and aim at winning seats at the county assembly, parliamentary, governorship and other high decision-making levels in the country.
Achani, who made history in the just concluded general election as the first female governor from the coastal region, said this would help increase women’s representation at decision-making levels in the country for rapid development.
Achani joins seven other female governors who emerged the winners in their bids and are now representing their counties in the coveted position.
She said she will work hard to demonstrate that women were capable of effectively representing their people at decision-making levels.
“When women are in leadership positions there will be equitable distribution of resources to address challenges of communities,” she said.
