Governors' Spouses Complain, Pressure Govt to Allocate Them Funds

Spouses of governors from the 14 counties that make up the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) sought recognition of their offices and a budget to fund their projects.

Addressing a press conference at their 1st inaugural meeting in Kisumu on Thursday, November 17, Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo’s wife, Emily Nyaribo, claimed their ventures were hampered by financial constraints. 

“We do not have enough financial muscle to take care of our people, yet the community views us as people who are equal to the Governor,” the chairperson of the ‘First Spouses of the Governors’ lamented. 

Recognition under the Constitution, they stated, would legally mandate them to cater to the needs of society and run parallel social projects.

Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo’s wife, Emily Nyaribo addressing a press conference in Kisumu on Thursday, November 17.

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“We are a non-political outfit that is not funded by the county governments. We need to be entrenched into the Constitution as first spouses in order to meet the expectations of our people,” she explained.

The spouses stated that they attend to cases of early childhood education, gender affairs and supporting the vulnerable in their societies, among other sensitive issues. 

“We have a lot on our plates, and as women we are able to see the problems the society is facing and react instantly,” she supported.

They claimed that members of the communities they serve approach them regularly with myriad problems that they cannot ignore.

The deputy chairperson of the caucus Agnes Ochilo, the first lady of Migori County, stated their coming together will effectively address issues affecting women, children and the underprivileged in society.

“We will guide our children right from infancy and rally other Blocs to join in and champion this course,” Ochilo highlighted.

Their association, which only consists of women, hopes to expand to accommodate their male counterparts.

At inception, the caucus was known as ‘First Ladies Association’, but with the election of Governor Gladys Wanga as Homa Bay governor, the women backtracked on the name to include Wanga’s husband, hence the name ‘First Spouses of the Governors’.

Homa Bay governor-elect Gladys Wanga receiving his certificate after winning the gubernatorial election in Homa Bay on Aug 12, 2022

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