Having powered her way against all odds to win Eldoret South Parliamentary seat in 2007, Hon. Peris Chepchumba Simam say she is now in the saddle and advises women that whether with new or old constitution, they must assert their authority and face men at the ballot in 2012/2013 elections. She spoke to Sunday Express Corespondent, OMONDI BYROERNNE,
QUESTION:Peris
Chepchumba Simam! I will not ask you what is in a name but I know many Kenyans
want to know who is this giant killer?
ANSWER:Yes that
is me and I want to tell you that I might have been just a teacher with little
or no experience in politics, but here I am and I want to assure you and
Kenyans in general that having won the hotly contested Eldoret South seat in
2007 General Elections, I did get myself in politics with a vision for my
people, my country and in response to divine calling of “Go ye and lead my
people”
QUESTION:In fact,
I was just going to ask you what drove you to politics and if you are in it
full time, or as an educationalist you may make an early exit?
ANSWER:That
is
a two part question and I will want to answer it just the same. Firstly,
I won
the Eldoret South seat comfortably and drawing the aspiration from
answering
the call of the people.The plight of my people drove me to join politics
as there were
some void in leadership - I felt I could offer leadership so that we
could take Eldoret South to another level of social, political and
economic development.
I can say that so far, the past 4 years are testimony of where we have
come
from. Secondly, let me tell you that once a politician will remain so
and I have worked with the people of Eldoret South to nurture a new
pattern of
leadership that will embrace all sundry in the constituency and beyond.
Educationist, I was and I think that gave me a springboard from which I
could
view Eldoret South from a vantage point and see what the people
required.
QUESTION:That
sounds a warning to all who may be contemplating taking on you come next years
elections – how will you handle the emerging situation?
ANSWER:At
this
point in time, let me concentrate on matters of development and anything
that
will help uplift the standards of living of my people. Let me hasten to
add
that in developing i have initieted in Eldoret South, the door has not
been closed to anybody
genuinely coming in to help us in areas of development. I want to call
upon
those who are on political with hunt and are illegally using vital arms
of government to come and join hands with us on development matters. I
need everybody
onboard because my passion and desire for the constituency are
engagements that
cannot be undertaken single handedly.
QUESTION:Lets
come to that later, Mheshimiwa, will the trend of electing female legislatures in Rift Valley continue
come the next elections? We all know that a record 6 female legislatures from Rift valley were elected in 2007
ANSWER:Indeed
the people of Rift Valley Province showed magnamity in electing the record
number of female MPs but I will want to encourage more women to seek elective
political posts next year. This is because it will never be easy for men to cede
positions for women just for the sake of it. I know cases where women have been
cheated not to run, that they will be nominated, but this has never been
so. We have learnt from these mistakes and there is now no way we are going to
be trampled upon. Our time is now and women must stand up and be counted.
QUESTION:Has the
big number of women translated to any gains for women in this 10th Parliament?
ANSWER:Nothing
can be further from the truth! From the floor of the House a number of issues
touching on women have been undertaken, in Debates, Motions and even bills and
I want to say we are heading in the right direction and just like I am in the
saddles of Eldoret South more women should come across the country
QUESTION:So lets
look on what you promised and what you have delivered and the journey ahead?
ANSWER: I
talked of servant leadership. This we have achieved through interactive way of
doing things which was in response to my appeal during elections that, not me,
but all of us in Eldoret South have congregated to seek ways through which we
can contribute individually and collectively in matters affecting our people.
When I was elected a Member of Parliament, the activities in Eldoret South were
a pale shadow of people’s expectations and even though we never abandoned
projects that had been initiated by the previous leadership, I want to say that
it was not mean work. Since then a lot of things have improved and we have
taken a new cause in which this time, the sky will be the limit. The people are
supportive and at this point I cannot afford to fail.
QUESTION:Afford
to fail or not that is a question. What Plans have you put in place for Eldoret
South so far as above entails?
ANSWER: When we
took over as I said, everything was in pathetic situation and as we started
from scratch. I want to say our objective was to build proper economic
infrastructure and these included the use of CDF and supplementary support from
our development partners which in the eye of Kenyans is a milestone. I want to
thank them most sincerely We have managed to do road, water points, rural
electrification and other socio-economic infrastructures. Let me enumerate by
indicating some of the areas that have benefited. They include; Lenguse
Location, Ketiplong and Lemok in Kapseret among others. KPLC have also come in
to match the shilling 3 million with the same amount to help in the
electrification programme which has also been fully supported by the Ministry
of Energy. In the water sector, we have partnered with World Bank through K-Rep
Bank to start the projects. Education is not left behind and a lot of effort is
mounted in all sectors including primary, secondary and colleges and
universities through provisions of facilities
QUESTION:Well
said! What are the other major challenges you have come across in this first
term of duty?
ANSWER:Let me
admit, we are leading people whose expectations are very high and this has been
very challenging. People still expect a lot to be done for them and in
particular the CDF funds which is very minimal and cannot be fully expected to
satisfy all the expectations.In addition, opponents and some of corrupt CDF officials i sacked for alleged
insubordination and misuse of funds have ganged up with EACC to implicate me in the
misappropriation of public funds that doesn’t exist.Some are dragging my name into court with false allegations but that will come to pass as the court will unveil the truth.
QUESTION:So which are the general areas you have encouraged for people to look to gain self reliance?
ANSWER:We have
managed to enroll more students to the universities and also encouraged those
remaining in their homes to join groups so that they can benefit from Small and
Medium Enterprises Activities
QUESTION:May be
then you could tell us your take on the the impact of National Economic
Stimulus Programme in your Constituency?
ANSWER:It has really uplifted the standard of living for our people
and I want to appeal to the the Ministry of Finance to allocate more funds to
make this programme a success. This programme has facilitated the resources to be taken to all
parts of the constituency and most of the challenges relating to unemployment
will be eased.
QUESTION:You come
from Rift Valley Province which unfortunately bore the brunt of the post
election violence in early 2008. What of that humbling experience?
ANSWER:You
have
said humbling experience, indeed it was humbling experience and I want
to say
its sad when you still see people in IDP camps. The government must work
extra
hard to erase the black spot of people who are still languishing in the
camps
and see to it that these people are relocated and IDP camps closed as
these are
our brothers and sisters. I urge all the people seeking next years
elective posts to avoid inciting the public against others because we
are all Kenyans
QUESTION:And
about 10th Parliament of which you are a member! What would you say?
ANSWER:It may
not be for us to pass judgment but I want to say that in terms of Motion, Bills
and other legislative work, this Parliament has tremendously done good work
No comments:
Post a Comment