The race for the Kilifi Woman Representative seat in the forthcoming general election has continued to attract new entrants.

Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) Kilifi county chairlady witness Tsuma is the newest entrant into the race.

It is the second time for Tsuma to take a stub at the seat after she unsuccessfully contested in 2017 

She vied on a Kadu Asili ticket and lost to ODM’s Getrude Mbeyu who is the current Woman representative.

Other contestants in the woman representative race are Juliet Riziki who has a leaning to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) associated with Deputy president William Ruto, Santa Mwanyule, Kilifi county nominated Senator Christine Zawadi and the incumbent.

Tsuma announced her candidature after meeting with the Chonyi Council of elders in Chasimba, Kilifi South on Saturday.

Ms Tsuma said that her focus is to make sure the rights of women in Kilifi County are upheld.

“What we have seen for the past ten years is continued suffering of women who have been forgotten even with the availability of government affirmative funds. This has been caused by leaders who have given the women a blind eye when they are expected to be in the frontline in offering solutions,” she said. 

Tsuma told the Chonyi elders that her determination to see a changed Kilifi woman is what is pushing her to go for the seat and continue with her advocacy for social and economic empowerment. 

“I have worked with several donors to make sure that we change the situation. In several areas, we have done several interventions that are slowly changing the narrative about women,” she said. 

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She said Kilifi is rich in natural resources that if harnessed can directly benefit the community but lack of proper policies has made the same resources a subject of conflict. 

“It is sad that we have enough land that can be used for economic development. But because of poor policies, the same land has brought a lot of bloodshed. We have seen the demolishing of houses and unwarranted evictions,” she told the elders. 

She officially announced her return to ODM and supported the recent changes that took place in ODM county team. 

“I am in ODM to stay and those saying that ODM is dead in Kilifi are daydreaming. It is alive and we even now have new interim chairman who is Mr Teddy Mwambire, the Ganze MP. Soon we shall start the recruitment process for new members,” she said.