Gender CS nominee apologises over controversial femicide remarks

Gender, Arts, and Culture Cabinet Secretary nominee Hannah Wendot Cheptumo has apologised for her controversial remarks on femicide cases being because women are killed looking for money.’

Hours after the Parliament approved her nomination, which will be forwarded a report to President William Ruto for appointment, Wendot clarified that she does not hold the belief that any woman or other human being deserves to be killed under any circumstances.

The CS nominee pointed out that she did not properly bring out the point she wanted to explain, how women face economic challenges, hence not separating femicide and the economic turmoil faced by women.

“I sincerely apologise for this statement. I do not hold the belief that any woman (or other human being) deserves to be killed under any circumstances. While I intended to bring out some of the economic challenges that many women face, I improperly related two separate issues,” she said in a statement.

She acknowledged the prevalence of femicide in the country, adding that it ought to be specifically included in the Penal Code.

“Violence based on gender occurs in any and every corner of society, and it affects all women, regardless of their socioeconomic reality. It ought to be specifically included in the Penal Code,” Wendot said.

“Kenyan women deserve to be protected under any circumstances. Femicide, Gender-based violence, and all other forms of discrimination based on gender must be dealt with critically and carefully. I want every mother, father, and child – every Kenyan – to know they can count on me to articulate these issues on their behalf, and with accountability,” she added.

Her apology also comes hours after the National Assembly Majority Leader and Kimani Ichung’wa apologiSed on the floor of the House on her behalf, stating that they had spoken and she clarified whatever she wanted to articulate.

Ichung’wa alleged to have received apologies from Hannah while tabling the report by the nomination committee for approval of her nomination for the CS post.

“I have indeed spoken to her and she has offered her unreserved apologies to the country, to the National Assembly Appointments Committee, to this house for that inadvertent statement, and I think it is only right that we support this lady,” Ichung’wa stated.

According to the legislator, the nominee was in an unfamiliar environment and could have panicked, hence her controversial remarks.

“Someone who has not been in the space that she was in that day is likely to make such small mistakes. When you have not least 20 cameras on your face, people panic and may answer questions in a way that they never intended to,” he claimed.

While appearing before the National Assembly Appointments Committee on Monday, the Gender CS nominee’s remarks left the country wondering if she willbe able to lead the sector.

She stated that the femicide victims are uneducated women, and those who are educated are looking for money.

This did not sit well with the appointments committee led by the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetang’ula, who told her off that some of the victims are educated young university girls.

On the contrary, she claimed that the educated ones were looking for money.

“They are educated, but those who are looking for money. You know a girl has many needs.”

Leaders led by the Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss Shollei and the Assembly Minority leader Junet Mohammed had called out the late Cheptumo’s widow to apologize over her statement.

Also, Kenyans online have been furious, claiming that the Gender CS post has been vacant since August last year, and they had not noticed it.