Newly-elected Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani makes history as the first female Governor in the Coastal region, as she gets sworn in Thursday, 25 August.
Achani triumphed over a male-dominated race to clinch the county’s top job, making a landmark in the history of Coastal women in politics.
The hotly contested post saw the likes of Hamadi Boga (ODM), Eng. Lung’anzi Chai (PAA) and former Ambassador Chirau Mwakwere (Wiper) among others concede defeat to Achani to become the first female Governor of Kwale County.
Achani is said to have been having a great relationship with her county chief, outgoing Governor Salim Mvurya, throughout their two-term reign during which she served as his deputy.
The former Deputy governor took over from her immediate predecessor’s endorsement and was awarded a direct ticket by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party to ascend to the top seat.
Achani was on Thursday sworn into office as just one of 7 women out of the 45 Governors-elect who took the oath of office and assumed the leadership mantle.
“The elections are now over, let’s embrace peace and work together,” Achani concluded.
Like it was a women’s power moment, Achani’s swearing-in ceremony held at the Kwale Stadium was also conducted by a female judge; Lady Justice Olga A. Sewe.
The first Kwale female governor promised to implement all the pending projects of her former boss, outgoing Governor Mvurya, who also attended the ceremony and handed over the instruments of power to her.
In Robert Greene’s ‘48 Laws of Power’, he advises legislators to never outshine their masters if they have the intention of ascending to power; and, seemingly, Achani grasped that pretty well.
In the 2022 general election, it’s only two deputy governors were able to succeed their bosses, that is; Fatuma Achani and Wesley Rotich, who served under outgoing Elgeyo Marakwet Governor Alex Tolgoi from 2013 to 2022.
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Achani is an advocate of the High Court and holds a Law degree from Moi University. She has worked for various law firms and human rights organizations including the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Kenya.
