Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza has called on her female counterparts to take the opportunities given to them and deliver on their mandate.
Speaking during the launch of the G7 Women Governors Caucus Strategy at Safari Park, Mwangaza said it was only through hard work that more women would be given leadership positions by Kenyans.
She called on women in leadership to make public and market their successes for everyone to see the capability of women in society.
"I want to tell you that you must work hard and at the same time publicise the work that we do at the grassroots, we cannot be given positions just for the sake of because we are women, we must work nd the work we do must be seen," Mwangaza said.
"I always tell leaders that any good job that we do minus marketing, minus publicity is like winking to a beautiful girl in darkness so we must work hard and publicise the work we do for people to see what we are doing as women and give us more opportunities."
She acknowledged that leadership for women comes with a lot of challenges.
The governor said any woman who wishes to be a leader is supposed to prepare herself psychologically and prepare their family for the journey ahead of them.
She further noted that the leadership requires them to be tough but maintained that they must do good work as the charm to win the hearts of the electorate.
Reflecting on her journey, Mwangaza said behind the 'Governor ni Mama' slogan there have been a lot of challenges she has had to overcome.
This includes having been impeached but survived; first after being saved by the court and was saved by the Senate in the other two impeachment attempts.
"Governor ni Mama as they say in Meru, we have been through a lot and that is why I want to encourage every woman leader here who wants to go for leadership because the journey is not so easy," she said.
"For me as governor in Meru I have been impeached thrice, the first time the court stood with me, the second and third times the senate saved me and in that journey, the President has always prayed for me," Mwangaza added.
She acknowledged the immense support and prayers she had received from President William Ruto all through her tribulations.
"I would like to thank the President because when you came to Meru to campaign for your UDA candidate because you have a soft spot for women you did not attack me, you are so kind to women and we appreciate you as women," she said.
Mwangaza said despite being the only woman who won her seat as an independent candidate, the support from the President has been unwavering.