Ichung’wa apologises for femicide remarks by Gender CS nominee Hannah Cheptumo
According to the legislator, the nominee was in an unfamiliar environment and could have panicked, hence her controversial remarks.
National Assembly Majority Leader and Kikuyu Member of Parliament Kimani Ichungwa has apologised on behalf of the Cabinet Secretary Nominee for Gender, Hannah Cheptumo, over her controversial remarks on the rising femicide cases in the country.
Ichungwa alleged to have received apologies from Cheptumo while tabling the vetting report by the Committee on Appointments for approval of her nomination.
“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,” Ichungwa 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.
The apology by Ichung’wa comes after the Gender CS nominee justified the killing of women, especially female university students, saying they land in trouble due to their love for money, remarks which left the country wondering if she would be able to lead the sector.
She stated that the femicide victims are uneducated women, and those who are educated are looking for money.
“They are educated, but those who are looking for money. You know a girl has many needs.”
This did not sit well with the committee led by the National Assembly Speaker, Moses Wetang’ula, who told her off that some of the victims are educated young university girls.
Cheptumo failed to apologise to the committee for her remarks.
Other MPs, including Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss and Minority Leader Junet Mohammed had ALSO 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.
The MPs also approved Public Service Cabinet Secretary nominee Geoffrey Ruku and Cheptumo.
