Raila has been given seven days by Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani to retract the “bibi ya Mvurya” moniker.
The governor of Kwale, Fatuma Achani, has demanded an official apology from the head of the opposition party, Raila Odinga, over remarks that he allegedly made suggesting a love connection between the county boss and Salim Mvurya, the cabinet secretary for mining and the blue economy.
She threatened to sue the opposition leader if he does not comply within seven days, calling Raila’s remark “demeaning and disrespectful” in a statement from the county head.
She said the comments were made in an unflattering and biassed manner against women.
One of the most persistent abuses of human rights on a global scale is violence against women and girls. In a statement, Nicky Gitonga, the director of communications and spokesperson for the Kwale County Government, described the comments as “demeaning and uncalled-for,” adding that they were disrespectful to Governor Achani and detrimental to the country’s efforts to achieve gender parity in trade.
Adding;
Her leadership position in Kwale is commendable, and Governor Achani, who is married and a devout Muslim, deserves respect. An official apology must be extended to the people of Kwale County no later than 7 days from now. Should the party ODM and Raila Odinga fail to cooperate, legal action would be taken against them.
Achani claims that on Thursday, January 25, 2024, while touring Kwale to begin the ODM party members’ recruitment campaign, the head of the Azimio la Umoja – One Kenya alliance made the degrading remark.
Legislator Fatuma Masito and Senator Issa Juma Boy of Kwale both apologised to Raila and then switched parties, respectively, to the opposition.
At the ceremony, Raila dubbed Governor Achani “…bibi wa Mvurya” because of her ties to the governing Kenya Kwanza coalition and CS Mvurya.
It is worth mentioning that the CS is also the immediate past governor of Kwale, a position that Achani held for 10 years before she received his backing for her nomination in the August 2022 elections.