Former nominated senator Millicent Omanga revealed she fell out with President William Ruto over alleged betrayal. She claimed the president failed to honour key commitments he made to women before the 2022 General Election.
Speaking on Saturday, March 28, Omanga said the president signed a women’s charter promising equal representation. She added that the pledge included a strict 50:50 gender balance in government appointments, which remains unfulfilled.
Omanga pointed out that the administration has not implemented several promises targeting women and young girls. These included free sanitary towels for public school girls and free diapers for women delivering in public hospitals.
She argued that the government abandoned these commitments despite clear agreements made publicly during the campaign period. Omanga insisted that leaders used these pledges to attract votes but failed to act afterward.
The former senator also criticized the removal of the Linda Mama program, which supported maternal healthcare services. She said the program previously helped many women access essential services but no longer exists in its original form.
Omanga explained that she rejected an appointment to the Nairobi Rivers Regeneration Commission due to its mandate. She said the commission planned demolitions near riverbanks, which would directly affect many of her supporters.
She emphasized that nearly forty percent of her supporters live in areas targeted for possible demolitions. Omanga stated that accepting the role would have conflicted with her responsibility to protect those communities.
Her remarks came shortly after she joined Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party recently. Gachagua welcomed her during an event at the party headquarters on Thursday, March 19.
During the event, Gachagua described Omanga as a leader with integrity who understands the struggles of Nairobi residents. He insisted that leaders elected under the party would remain accountable and resist external influence after elections.
Omanga also addressed Nairobi residents directly and asked for forgiveness over her previous political stance. She admitted that she supported President Ruto believing in his promises but later realized they were misleading.
About The Author
