WOMEN nominated as representatives to the Garissa assembly have been asked to use their numbers to fight for women's interests in the county.

Speaking in Garissa town yesterday after meeting the 16 members, Garissa women's representative Shukran Gure said the women have an opprtunity to help their counterparts who have been neglected by patriarchal institutions.

"Don't be intimidated by your male counterparts at the assembly. Instead prepare to give them a real challenge by learning standing orders and house rules quickly, Gure said"

The women were sworn in last week by assembly speaker Mohamed Abey Mohamed. The Garissa House has 48 member - 32 men and 16 women. Gure said she opposes retrogressive cultural hurdles facing women in the North Eastern region.

She said if it was not for the one-third gender rule in the constitution all counties assemblies in the region would have been male dominated since no women were elected during the March 4 general election.

"It is discouraging that our community does not appreciate the role of women in leadership despite the few who have climbed to the ladder proving they are better and more considerate than their male counterparts" the women's representative said.