By Caren Owino, Kisumu
Leaders of the Maendeleo ya Wanawake in Kisumu County have dismissed reports of internal wrangles within the organization, insisting that the claims are baseless and intended to create confusion among members.
Speaking during a meeting bringing together ward and county officials, County Chairperson Caren Oketch said the organization remains united under its elected leadership and will continue to resolve any internal matters through its constitutional structures.
Oketch maintained that individuals making public statements purporting to represent the organization had no legitimate mandate from members.
“The people you see here are the duly elected delegates, with ten representatives from each ward, who form the legitimate leadership of this organization,” she said.
“Whatever you have heard or seen elsewhere has nothing to do with this team.”
She said the Women’s Development Organization is governed by a constitution that clearly outlines how leadership issues and disputes should be handled, adding that any disagreements would be addressed through established internal mechanisms rather than through public exchanges.
“We have protocols, procedures and a constitution that guide how all internal issues and disputes are handled. Matters concerning the organization will never be resolved on the streets,” Oketch said.
She urged members to remain focused on the organization’s objectives and not be distracted by what she described as propaganda aimed at undermining the leadership elected by members.
According to Oketch, the organization’s leadership structure remains intact from the ward to the county level, with officials continuing to discharge their responsibilities in line with the constitution.
The chairperson said the organization has built strong governance structures over the years, enabling it to address emerging issues internally while safeguarding the interests of its members.
Party leader Betty Onyango also rallied members behind the current leadership, saying every official currently serving was democratically elected through processes outlined in the organization’s constitution.
She commended Oketch for her leadership and urged members to respect the organization’s established governance systems.
“We thank our county chairperson, Caren Oketch, for the work she has done,” Onyango said.
“We are the women who were elected by the members, just as you see us here today. Leadership positions are determined by members through the constitution, and if any changes are required, they will be carried out through the organization’s official procedures.”
Onyango stressed that no individual or group could alter the organization’s leadership outside the constitutional framework agreed upon by members.
She said members should remain united and continue supporting the elected leadership while allowing constitutional processes to guide any future leadership changes.
The leaders noted that organizations thrive when members adhere to established rules and procedures rather than allowing external influences to dictate their affairs.
They warned that attempts to portray the organization as divided were misleading and did not reflect the position of its duly elected officials.
According to the officials, the Women’s Development Organization remains committed to promoting women’s empowerment, strengthening grassroots leadership and advancing development initiatives across the county.
They said the focus remains on implementing programmes that benefit members instead of engaging in unnecessary leadership contests fuelled by outsiders.
The officials further appealed to members to seek information only through official communication channels and recognised leadership structures to avoid being misled by misinformation.
They reiterated that the organization would continue operating within the provisions of its constitution, adding that any grievances should be addressed through the established mechanisms available to members.
