Speaking on Saturday, March 28, Omanga said her disagreement with the president stemmed from what she described as betrayal of promises that were made to women leaders and voters during the campaign period.
According to the former senator, one of the key commitments was a women’s charter that promised equal gender representation in government.
She claimed the president pledged to implement a 50:50 gender balance in government appointments, a promise she says has not been fulfilled.
“We had a women’s charter during the campaigns and the current president signed it. He agreed that there would be a 50:50 gender balance in government appointments, not even the two-thirds rule. But we are not seeing that happening,” Omanga said.
She also pointed to other pledges that she claims remain unimplemented, including the provision of free sanitary towels to girls in public schools.
Omanga further criticized the government for allegedly abandoning a plan that would have provided free diapers to women delivering in public hospitals.
According to her, the removal of the Linda Mama maternal healthcare programme, which had been introduced during the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, was another indication that commitments made during the campaign period were not being honored.
“Another thing is that women delivering in public hospitals would get free diapers. We also saw the removal of Linda Mama, which was there during the previous administration. We later realized that some of the things we signed were just meant for election purposes,” she said.
Omanga also revealed that she turned down an appointment to the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Commission board, saying the responsibilities of the position conflicted with the interests of many of her supporters.
She explained that part of the commission’s mandate involved demolishing structures and markets located near riverbanks in Nairobi, areas where many of her voters reside.
“I looked at the mandate of the commission and one of the responsibilities was demolishing markets and houses near riverbanks. About 40 percent of the people who voted for me live in those areas, so I felt I could not support something that would affect them directly,” she said.
The remarks come just days after Omanga officially joined the Democracy for the Citizens Party led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
During her unveiling at the party headquarters earlier this month, Gachagua described Omanga as a principled leader committed to defending the interests of Nairobi residents.
In her address during the event, Omanga also apologized to Nairobi voters for supporting President Ruto during the 2022 elections.
“I want to ask the people of Nairobi for forgiveness because I believed the promises that were made. I thought the wheelbarrow movement would deliver change, but I was wrong,” she said.
“We had a women’s charter during the campaigns and the current president signed it. He agreed that there would be a 50:50 gender balance in government appointments, not even the two-thirds rule. But we are not seeing that happening,” Omanga said.
She also pointed to other pledges that she claims remain unimplemented, including the provision of free sanitary towels to girls in public schools.
Omanga further criticized the government for allegedly abandoning a plan that would have provided free diapers to women delivering in public hospitals.
According to her, the removal of the Linda Mama maternal healthcare programme, which had been introduced during the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, was another indication that commitments made during the campaign period were not being honored.
“Another thing is that women delivering in public hospitals would get free diapers. We also saw the removal of Linda Mama, which was there during the previous administration. We later realized that some of the things we signed were just meant for election purposes,” she said.
Omanga also revealed that she turned down an appointment to the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Commission board, saying the responsibilities of the position conflicted with the interests of many of her supporters.
She explained that part of the commission’s mandate involved demolishing structures and markets located near riverbanks in Nairobi, areas where many of her voters reside.
“I looked at the mandate of the commission and one of the responsibilities was demolishing markets and houses near riverbanks. About 40 percent of the people who voted for me live in those areas, so I felt I could not support something that would affect them directly,” she said.
The remarks come just days after Omanga officially joined the Democracy for the Citizens Party led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
During her unveiling at the party headquarters earlier this month, Gachagua described Omanga as a principled leader committed to defending the interests of Nairobi residents.
In her address during the event, Omanga also apologized to Nairobi voters for supporting President Ruto during the 2022 elections.
“I want to ask the people of Nairobi for forgiveness because I believed the promises that were made. I thought the wheelbarrow movement would deliver change, but I was wrong,” she said.
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