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Transcript/ScriptKENYA ELECTION WOMEN (TV)
HEADLINE: Kenya Could Elect First Female Deputy President in August Poll
TEASER: Three out of the four candidates in the race for the presidency have chosen women as their running mates
PUBLISHED: 8/2/2022 at 9:32 p.m.
BYLINE: Juma Majanga
DATELINE: Nairobi, Kenya
VIDEOGRAPHER: Amos Wangwa
VIDEO EDITOR:
SCRIPT EDITORS: MAS, DLJ
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 2:43
VID APPROVED BY: MCY
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO)) [[ Out of the four candidates running in Kenya’s presidential election next week, three have running mates who are women, including frontrunner Raila Odinga. The election could herald a breakthrough in Kenya’s national politics. But female politicians say getting to this historic point has been no easy journey, as Juma Majanga reports from Nairobi.]]
((VIDEO-VOA: PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES UNVAILING THEIR RUNNING MATES-various))
((NARRATOR))
It’s unprecedented in Kenya. Three of the four candidates running in the August 9 presidential election have female running mates.
Pollsters say former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and his running mate, former Justice Minister Martha Karua, lead the pack just days before the vote.
((Tom Wolf, Pollster and Political Researcher ((English, 23 secs))
“When you have a woman with a public prominence of Martha Karua who was an MP for 15 or 20 years, she served in Mwai Kibaki’s Cabinet, and she quit on principle. Then she’s been leading her own political party Nark Kenya. I think that made it easier for the other two presidential candidates to see this is quite fine. And maybe even politically advantageous to have a woman as a running mate.”
((VIDEO-VOA: JUSTINA WAMAE-various))
((NARRATOR))
Justina Wamae is running with presidential contender Professor George Wajackoyah. She grew up watching prominent women politicians like Martha Karua, who is now her competitor.
((Justina Wamae, Roots Party Deputy Presidential Candidate (English, 9 secs))
“I’m happy because Martha Karua and the other ladies like Mama Ngilu, they cracked the glass ceiling. Now we’ve blown it up open. Three of us is a big thing.”
((VIDEO-VOA: ROOTS PARTY MANIFESTO LAUNCH-various))
((NARRATOR))
Her Roots Party has come up with an unprecedented manifesto in Kenya, promising to execute those found guilty of corruption, implement a four-day work week and legalize marijuana.
((Justina Wamae, Roots Party Deputy Presidential Candidate (English, 16 secs))
“Professor George Wajackoya and myself have a vision. We are telling you that we want to legalize industrial hemp for economic upswing. Our aim is that we will not increase taxes, we will pay off the debt and we will shun donor funding because this country must be respected.”
((VIDEO-VOA: RUTH MUTUA IN DEBATE))
((NARRATOR))
Meanwhile, Ruth Mutua is running with Agano Party presidential candidate David Waihiga.
Some Kenyans say the role of women is being politicized, while others say women are finally being recognized for their work in a male-dominated field.
((Julie Kisaina, Nairobi Resident (English, 22 secs))
“We grew up being told that men are supposed to dominate the society. They are supposed to lead us. But now that everyone is recognizing what we can do and the opening up to give us space to express ourselves and also to assist in leadership, is great.”
((Ronald Talam, Nairobi Resident (English, 7 secs))
“To my take, it is a gender card issue that is being played and it is being politicized in Kenya.”
((VIDEO-VOA: CHARITY NGILU IN CAMPAIGN, MARTHA KARUA-various))
((NARRATOR))
Two women have lost previous bids for the top seat in Kenya. Political observers say this election may mark the first time a woman takes the second highest political seat as Kenya’s deputy president.
((Juma Majanga, for VOA News,
NewsML Media TopicsArts, Culture, Entertainment and Media
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Nairobi, Kenya
Embargo DateAugust 3, 2022 22:32 EDT
Byline((Juma Majanga, for VOA News, Nairobi, Kenya.))
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English