Dennitah Ghati
Dennitah Ghati | |
|---|---|
| Nominated Member of Parliament | |
| Assumed office 8 August 2017 | |
| Woman Representative for Migori | |
| In office 4 March 2013 – 8 August 2017 | |
| Majority | 132,852 (51.4%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1980 |
| Nationality | Kenyan |
| Political party | Orange Democratic Movement |
Dennitah Ghati is a Kenyan politician who is a nominated member of the Kenya National Assembly, representing people with disabilities. She is a member of the Orange Democratic Movement.[1]
Early life
[edit]Dennitah Ghati was born in 1980 in a rural village in Migori and attended Kenya Institute of Mass Communication in Nairobi and Kenyatta University before working as a journalist at The East African Standard Newspaper.[2]
Ghati obtained a scholarship to Columbia University in the USA where she obtained a Master's degree and worked in New York for the American Jewish World Service. She subsequently worked for the League of Kenyan Women Voters and as a program manager for UNICEF Somalia.[1]
Political career
[edit]Ghati was elected to the National Assembly at the 2013 general election as the woman representative for Migori county with a majority of 51%, representing the Orange Democratic Movement.[3] Following the election the Peoples' Democratic Party candidate Fatuma Zainabu Mohammed challenged the election result in court, alleging intimidation, vote buying and bribery. The case was dismissed confirming Ghati's election.[4]
In 2014 she was involved in a road traffic accident in which she suffered a broken spine, leaving her permanently disabled. She now uses a wheelchair.[5]
In 2017 Ghati was nominated by the ODM to serve in one of the appointed seats in the national assembly as one of 12 members nominated by the political parties.[6] These 12 un-elected seats were introduced by the Constitution of Kenya in 2010 to represent the special interests of youth, persons with disabilities and workers.[7] Ghati is a representative of people with disabilities.[2]
Election results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ODM | Dennitah Ghati | 193,324 | 74.7 | |
| Peoples Democratic Party | Fatuma Zainab Mohammed | 60,472 | 23.4 | |
| National Alliance | Elsheba Akinyi Ayoma | 4,857 | 1.9 | |
| Majority | 132,852 | 51.4 | ||
| Turnout | ||||
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Dennitah Ghati". Kenya Parliament. Retrieved 5 August 2020.
- ^ a b "I was on top of the world then disability struck: MP Dennitah Ghatis's story". KSN Media. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ Data Report of 2017 Elections (PDF). Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.
- ^ "Court upholds Dennitah Ghati's election". Daily Nation. 8 October 2013. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
- ^ "If I could walk again: Former Migori County Women Representative Dennitah Ghati speaks out on the accident that left her crippled". Standard Media. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
- ^ "MPs". Kenya Parliament. Retrieved 7 August 2020.
- ^ Shiundu, Alphonce (31 August 2017). "FACTSHEET: Kenya's new parliament by numbers". Africa Check. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
- ^ Data Report of 2013 Elections (PDF). Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2020.