264 quotes found
"We must target changing attitudes among men and boys in order to create lasting improvements for women and girls. From experience, I can categorically say that an educated man in my opinion— one who is enlightened and not with academic credentials, will not be threatened by a woman."
"We should have the heart to support another woman more whether she has got means or no means. I don’t need to be given anything by any woman for me to support her. I should be able to support them because it is the right thing to do."
"I have no apology for loving myself."
"Never allow despair to get the better of you. You should march on with determination and resolve. Complete whatever work you started with your husband, if you can. Do even better where possible."
"I advise widows to remarry for the sake of the children if they feel they cannot manage on their own."
"Do not accept a ‘come-we-stay’ arrangement. I dismisse wife inheritance as …a good thing overtaken by time and circumstances."
"I consider herself lucky in this regard, because my two children, Kavinya and Maluki, were aged 19 and 17 respectively when their father died. I ensured that they pursued their education overseas uninterrupted."
"Keeping aloof will break you. Share your problems with other widows. Mama Ngina Kenyatta (Kenya’s pioneer First Lady), Pamela Mboya and Mrs Argwings Kodhek (both widows of Cabinet Ministers in the Kenyatta government) were close to me and I consulted them a lot."
"I take credit for advocating for women’s rights during the Beijing women’s conference, but regrets that the lot of women has not improved to the levels anticipated in the conference objectives, especially in areas of water, food security and poverty. Successive governments have failed to address women’s needs."
"When we passed the new Constitution, I was sure that the position of the County Women’s Representative would serve to address the plight of women right from the village level, but things have not changed, especially because the position is not supported through funding."
"Leadership has to make peoples' lives better."
"stuffing ourselves with the poisons and irritants in tobacco is not cool", as "tobacco kills half of those who use it. This can certainly not be "cool"."
"From to-day smoking in all public places is prohibited. Smoking will not be allowed in public vehicles, cinema halls, schools, work places, restaurants and anywhere else where members of the public are enjoying fresh air."
"The Roots Party Presidential candidate George Wajackoyah popularity is gaining on President William Ruto."
"The problem posed by oral health in Africa is compounded by the fact that budgetary allocation to oral health programmes has been minimal."
"Gone are the days when the prime function of the Kenyan woman was to be treated as a man’s possession."
"You cannot touch or take anybody to court over corruption when you yourself are corrupt."
"People on the ground feel that I left the Ministry of Water late so by the time I started my campaigns it was already too late."
"I appreciate that in 2013 I lost and the reasons are clear. I am ready to put that behind me and focus on the Kitui governorship seat."
"The people of Kitui felt that I had betrayed them by severing links with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka thus resolving to punish me through the ballot."
"All we need on that day is the Bible and venue and it certainly does not cost Sh6 million."
"If it is a matter of my coming back to continue where I left off, I am ready to take the challenge. I am able to continue serving the people of Kitui. It is important for them to receive proper service."
"Henceforth, I am moving forward for your sake and for the sake of many … People must be served with dignity, regardless of their social standing. Whether they have shoes, walk barefoot, or are pregnant, they must be respected and served without discrimination."
"A woman never has enmity with a fellow woman. It's the men who create that enmity because the same positions we are fighting are also coveted by men. So they go telling women that these are women like you. Now, when someone reminds you that, don't they know that you already know you are a woman?"
"Charity is many times hard on me but she’s great inspiration to many women across Kenya."
"She is the first woman to dare vie for president. … Thank you for paving the way for women’s leadership in Kenya. If it were not for you, many women governors wouldn't have the courage to join politics."
""The tragedy of life is not death, the tragedy of life is what dies in one when still alive"."
"“My slogan, Ntitonaibornagol, meaning ‘a young, strong girl’, resonated well with the electorate. We spoke to the community: You sired both boys and girls, took both of us to school, and here we are now. You have been giving opportunities to boys; we now humbly request you to give girls a chance, so you can see what we can turn out to be.”"
"“Individual passion and drive are crucial for success.”"
"Politics is a platform where you lead, where you transform, where you engage with other people to make the society better."
"If we do not have peace in our country, if we cannot be one people, then everything we aspire and we work for if futile."
"I remain Who I am so for me is whatever opportunity I have to serve to use it to the best of my ability and whatever little opportunity I have whether in elected service or indifferent space to use it to improve that position that is entrusted to me yeah so the label doesn't matter."
"We don't need to amend the Constitution to prescribe the relationship between a President and a Deputy President, people need to change their behavior."
"We pray that we may compete with ideas, not insults, that we lessen the tension in the nation by the way we treat one another, none of us is perfect."
"In any talks, the part that makes the talks succeed is the party in power."
"I ran in 2013 and lost, but I still have unfinished business with the presidency, so God-willing one day I will serve in that capacity."
"If you have no respect for your colleagues, you will also not respect the citizens. If you want the presidency, respect the sitting president … And it does not mean you should not fault him or her, but do it in a manner that is orderly and has a basis."
"I will unite with anybody I need to unite with in order to liberate this country."
"We remember that our constitution acknowledges the supremacy of God we remember our national values and principals and how we pray that moving forward and especially after this prayers that our actions match our words."
"It is said prayers without action is not real so how I pray that our prayers are matched by our action if we do that we definitely will have peaceful elections, a peaceful transition and a nation that stands together."
"Let’s give each other equality of opportunity probably there is a woman who will make this country move to the next level."
"Our wellbeing as a country is in our hands, let us really think how we utilize our power to vote that is the key to better living. Let us elect people of integrity, let us not follow money. Don’t vote with your stomach, vote with your mind."
"And for the women and people of Kenya, when it comes to election, elect independent women, women who think for themselves, who do not wait to be told what to do, women who will carry national issues on behalf of Kenyans and women's issues. Jul 23, 2025"
"Kenya is greater than my ambition that should after all that Kenyans decide its somebody else I definitely give way to let Kenya thrive. May 30, 2025"
"Believing that I have the expertise, experience, skills and competencies to move the Commonwealth secretariat to the next level, I seek your support and endorsement at the next Commonwealth Heads of Government Summit to serve as the next secretary general”"
"The reason we have this candidature is because I believe that I am a visionary, strategic, innovative and transformative leader with a track record of successful public service, proven commitment and integrity. I have insights in government and private organisations at the national, regional and international levels"
"We cannot realize our potential as a country, without an environment that enables us to optimize on opportunities around us"
"Through my support, I have seen young people go back to school. I have also witnessed married women return to high school. And in one place I was referred to as professor of professors, simply because I encouraged a culture of people going back to school even if they have children."
"I want to encourage the students that as you go, work hard, stay focused, and the sky is the limit."
"The role of women in science continues to be increasingly important particularly in development and also in the advancement of the field. I believe that we as women have a distinct perspective in science. If you look at the role that we've played in the life sciences and also in the medical sciences we have been able to bring women's issues to bear look at the issue of water and sanitizing water women have taken a leadership in this particular room because in African communities in the Kenyan communities water is woman's responsibility and we've been able to push for the fact that we need portable and cleaner water."
"We were very clear about our sincerity… we wanted very high penalties, we wanted a real disincentive for the poachers."
"I do not advocate any one philosophy or another, I’m no threat to any side, so everyone trusts me, as I trust them."
"It was shocking, deeply shocking."
"We’re still reeling from losing these five elephants; it’s the worst incident for a long time. It’s my job to stop this menace, and I want to be there to show the government is committed to this, to boost the morale of the rangers, to help however we can."
"Put youths of this Country to a level that they can comfortably go for leadership position."
"Leadership position is not only politics."
"There are so many leadership positions that youths can take advantage of."
"We don't want a nation of hustlers because we want people to move from where they are to the next level, we don't want to stick to where we are forever people start from somewhere"
"I would like to appeal to fellow women they should not wait for nomination all the time they should fight the men"
"I learnt a lot l learned how encouragement and strong a woman can be to lead people despite of men didn't like it"
"I stood against 158 male Mps and beat them all in debate"
"“It is time men started to change their thinking, for today’s woman can no longer be regarded as yesterday’s. Women will no longer be subservient to men.”"
"For the LORD your God is He who goes with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you."
"Today I celebrate my sister, mentor and friend. Hon Fatuma Ibrahim Ali. ... Hon Fatuma Ibrahim is a truly committed to the cause of empowering women and girls."
"We must stand strong against extremists and not let them divide us."
"We cannot think of a better outcome than calling on members to commit & invest in the existing recommendations and frameworks of the women peace and security agenda."
"We must stand firm on the fact that there has to be inclusion of women in every sphere in life. Women have a right to education, they have a right to participate in decision making, they have a right to dignity and all the rights enshrined in the universal declaration of human rights."
"The security council must raise its voice in favor of women who are suffering oppression, women who have been sidelined and marginalized."
"Progress has been made and it has been made because women stand up and advocate. It has been made because women make other women visible."
"We must not lose faith in the agency of women. We must not lose faith in the fact that women can change today and transform tomorrow."
"When women come together, there's power."
"We need to reflect on Africa’s unfavorable integration into the world economic order and our susceptibility to shocks from afar."
"We need a global order that will release Africa from the shackles of dependency, from a State in which Africa is unable to make its own decisions. We need to return Africa to a state of self-reliance."
"It is time that we must make and take bold actions. Our actions must solve problems in multiple ways and create solutions that are multifaceted. We must seek to achieve SDG 1 and 2,” CS Omamo said while referring to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty and hunger."
"Our law states that environmental conservation is our mandate. We shall embrace tree planting and this will earn every scout a badge namely the conservation badge.""
"The Nairobi governorship was mine and it remains mine."
"Any party that feels that it wants to work with me, they can invite me, but ODM is not among them. Going back to ODM is a no. I left ODM a long time a go after what they did to me and that is democracy."
"Even in my party (UDA), there are people I cannot vote for. They all know my stand, if someone has a questionable character or has zero service delivery track record, I Margaret Wanjiru cannot be part of their team."
"The Kenyan voters have started to adopt the ‘six-piece’ voting trend, where they elect people of their preferred political party."
"When people go out and campaign together, the crowd start looking at the whole team. There could be one or two that they don’t agree with, but for the sake of others we will do party politics."
"I have much respect and love for His Excellency Dr William Ruto, our Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and their families. We started this journey towards building a better and a more prosperous Nation together and we shall finish well together."
"I have great respect for the President and his family and I was not prepared to be left out of the progress the government was making to change the lives of Kenyans."
"The new law will help girls to say 'no', and make people think twice. But we really have to bring ownership to the community, otherwise it will just go underground."
"We have a new constitution where there's room for everybody to exploit their potential. There's gender equality; a girl, a boy, a man, a woman has to play their role in national development"
"There's no culture which is dynamic"
"Sex is in the mind. When you are prepared psychologically it will be ok"
"The biggest resources already in place is people. I am calling on all Kenyans to come out and protect the rights of the girl child"
"The destiny of the girl child is under threat especially from the FGM practicing communities. The girls/ ladies from those communities are missing in action"
"Female Genital Mutilation is detrimental in all aspects. Health, development, education. It is not good"
"The law is there for you, you simply need to report"
"They never know what they are missing until they discover"
"Whenever we hear disaster, everybody runs there. They don't check whether they are having a shoe as they are running there, they are just running there to protect or to see what has happened"
"When you're frightened don't sit still, keep on doing something. The act of doing will give your back your courage."
"Whenever you want to see me, always look at the sunset; I will be there."
"Death knocks at your door, and before you can tell him to come in, he is in the house with you."
"It is important to note that the employer's contribution to the affordable housing Levy is an allowable deduction under section 15 of the income Tax Act. An employer who fails to comply with the low is liable to pay a penalty of two per cent of the unpaid amount for each month that it remains unpaid ."
"That was just a tongue-twister. I know that the bottom-up economic model discussion bothers the 'Cerelac' babies, Kieleweke team and the ODM party."
"The clip was taken out of context. I was attending a show for one and a half hours...I said several things but they chose to bring a seven-seconds clip to show that we don't understand the model."
"I would say that in terms of the work that I've been doing, I'm very thankful to President William Ruto for returning me by way of this nomination, back to the ministry that I have been for the last 10 months."
"I find that as a confirmation or expression of confidence that I did my work properly and subject to the approval, I'm willing to serve the country in that capacity."
"I'm a team worker, I'm a hard worker, I believe in hardwork and I have the right attitude to carry out my work as a minister."
"As a lawyer, I understand some aspects of the ministry I am nominated for, for example in the State Department for Lands."
"I am competent, and has, in the past, been exposed to some challenges which I hope to overcome with the support of the Parliament."
"I want our county assemblies to make legislation so that we can publish the titles innthe Kenya Gazette. This will enable women to use the titles for official purposes."
"“I believe in justice and at the time there was a lot of injustice meted on Kenyans who supported NASA and that was what I was championing for at that particular moment. I’m a social justice advocate. I believe that the right thing should be done, and people should not be mistreated or undermined.”"
"You have a lot more hanging on your shoulders, every decision you make is likely to impact a lot more people. Right now if I make a decision, 1.4 million people in Homabay are affected or even the over 40 million Kenyans. You have to act like the leader you are.”"
"Be serious with the work you're elected by the people. If you're the DP or the President, you must be serious, instead of complaining. Kenya Kwanza's role is clear."
"All these people, who were considered non-shareholders by the Deputy President, have come forward and are also participating in this company that is called Kenya."
"When anybody from the presidency comes out to address the country, Kenyans expect that they will hear from the presidency about the many challenges they are facing."
"I dedicate this award to my colleagues in the Health sector, who work selflessly and with dedication in their service to Kenyans. Further, I dedicate this award to the 100,000 Community Health Promoters who anchor the Universal Health Coverage agenda at the grassroots."
"I began at the very bottom which was dispensing drugs at the chemist, I then moved to the hospital setting still behind the window dispensing. My last position as a pharmacist was at AAR Kisumu where I was in charge."
"I am cognizant of the sensitivity of this ministry; it is a matter of life and death. Matters of health touches on every Kenyan."
"To start us off the journey, we have two key pillars. The Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (Kemsa) will ensure the security of commodities to drive health care while the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) will deal with the financing bit, ensuring that money to take care of Kenyans' health is available. We are doing a lot of reforms in the two institutions to realign our goals."
"NHIF is not meant to be competing for private insurance, which is what is happening now because of the many enhanced schemes. We are refocusing this and concentrating on the hustlers and the poor. We are introducing a national social security scheme which takes care of everybody and for Kenyans who can afford private insurance to pay for it."
"I am deeply grateful, honoured and humbled to be one of ten phenomenon world leaders chosen to serve as GoalKeepers Advisory Board at Gates Foundation."
"Pan Africanism was essentially supposed to strengthen the bond among African people and create unity. However, how are people supposed to unite if women aren’t yet seen as fully people/humans? This means, even on a continental level, women are still very intentionally made vulnerable and heavily marginalized. Female politicians must come to the understanding that Pan Africanism cannot be fully achieved in dominant patriarchal spaces. Dismantling the patriarchy and its complex power matrix is something they should all be very keen on because its hindrances are too grave."
"My major backlash was the constant rejection because the world labelled me disruptive and at some point, in my life I felt so alone because of it. This is why it’s vital to have human anchors; it’s easy to sink and lose focus hence my commitment to anchor other women today fighting the fight. I’ve learnt to pick my fights and not everything is worth a response or a reaction."
"Feminism gave my work a lot of clarity, grounding and purpose. I knew I always wanted to be a voice for the many injustices around me that were happening without anyone saying much about it. So, I set out to say it and feminism made me realize I wasn’t insane for wanting to speak. It affirmed me. My work at Ukweli Party is centered on building a political institution that doesn’t downplay the role of women in politics, harnessing the scattered voices of women and becoming actual alternatives."
"This was my dream since my childhood days."
"I can't say there's just one thing that I'm satisfied with. But […] when people start to tell you that you have made a difference in their lives; when you see land policies change and companies begin to pay differently, that men and women should both be there, that is an achievement."
"Now we are diversifying food crop production and emphasising healthy diets, bringing in water literacy, and addressing gender inequities and children’s [wellbeing]. It’s been like a whole community effort."
"The journal was premised on what I had done in the field – it is like looking at an African village and everything that goes on in there! – but ultimately, [it’s about] how to feed your family a healthy diet."
"When I started the journal, even getting it indexed internationally was not easy because it's interdisciplinary. So, in terms of gaps, I would say it’s that interdisciplinarity that is missing."
"Working on climate, environmental sanitation, food processing, crop growing, food allocation, gender issues – this is all connected, [but] people still operate in silos. I was very happy when the UN came up with the Sustainable Development Goals and goal number 17 was partnerships and collaboration. You have to work together to be able to achieve something tangible."
"I have served you well since you first sent me to Parliament in 2013. I am still strong and ready to continue serving you, if you give me another opportunity ."
"I have just shared the video with CPA Mbadi, the girl told me that she was not in the street concerning the bill, she was doing TikTok. And she was swinging very nicely. She told me that she wanted to get views for TikTok."
"I asked the girl why she had gone for the protests despite the taxes being dropped and she told her she was creating content in order to get TikTok views."
"I watched one of the girls I pay school fees for and she was in the streets. She had written a message to me the previous day, and I asked her, you told me that it was about taxation on motor vehicles and bread, why are you in the street?"
"I am happy for the honor bestowed on me by board members and pledge to work with all stakeholders for the benefit of farmers in our country and other regions we serve ."
"If you have been keen, you will notice that not all politicians allied to UDA give TV, radio or newspaper interviews."
"Sometime back, in our UDA WhatsApp group, a section of the MPs body-shamed and insulted me, but the Deputy President remained silent, though he had read the messages."
"The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga, had made significant inroads in Central Kenya and reduced the margin between him and Ruto."
"Even if Ruto gets a higher number of votes in Mount Kenya in his presidential bid, he won’t beat Raila by a big margin. His (Ruto's) approval rating in Mount Kenya has reduced because of how he insults the region’s political parties and his refusal to rein in on cartels who are running the show in UDA."
"I was summoned in Nairobi and told to go run as MP in Mwea Constituency and leave the seat for her, but I have said no."
"The UDA party ticket had been sold to the highest bidder and revealed that she would contest as an independent candidate."
"I sponsored many needy students to complete their university education and linked them to the job market. I also provided students from far-flung areas with shelter in my home ."
"Tell them it is possible, it is doable and support them, talk to them, listen to them, hold their hands and encourage them to take up positions at different levels in the community."
"People are warming up to women leadership, people believe that their resources are safer in the hands of women and, therefore, women need to challenge themselves to take up leadership positions."
"We got the report from a child which was really sad — that there is no peace in their home. That is why to me this is very unique because mothers and fathers fight but, when it bothers the children, it’s more than what people should take. And then with the curfew, most conflicts are happening in the night or late in the evening so the kids cannot even run out."
"“We are tired. We want peace. We are starving. We are being killed. We are appealing to Mama Lucy Kibaki and Mama Ida Odinga, the wives to the president and prime minister. Our children in the slums are just as precious to us as your children are to you. They need peace. They need to be safe. They need to eat. We lost a child yesterday and we are tired.”"
"The women and girls are very interested because these initiatives are locally owned. This means that they involve the grassroot women and are undertaken by the community’s women and girls and not from an external source. These women and girls who were formerly marginalised are now actively engaged in processes and discourses that impact their lives."
"It was discovered that gaps still exist in efforts towards reducing gender inequalities."
"I give girls who are prone to violence a voice.”"
"they have opportunities to exchange ideas and approaches to peacemaking and justice, which helps increase their capacity to participate in conflict resolution and peace building efforts.”"
"State mechanisms, if any, that the Government has put in place to ensure effective and efficient response to reported cases of child abuse, neglect and violence at county and sub-county levels."
"if anyone works hard and diligently shows up for duty, dreams do come true. I am a living testimony that your background, surname, temporary setbacks and blips in life must not define our destiny."
"I promise to live up to my new role and I am promising Kenyans that I will not let them down or disappoint my party and its leadership."
"sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will have to pause and say: here lived a great street sweeper who swept his job well.""
"That inner urge to lead was irrigated with belief and passion then and I have all along offered myself to serve my people."
"I appreciated that politics requires strategic patience, hard work, a clear vision of a better future, an unshakeable belief that future to life and the ideal opportunity to make it all come together."
"It is about finding the right moment to act and when the moment chooses you."
"That D+ in my paper is not a failure but what I am bringing on the table."
"If I was not positive on the change I want to make, I wouldn't have applied for the position."
"if you are to win an elective position there, you must be a 'Sonko."
"Politics is an undefined career. You have to chart your own path as you learn on the job."
"We need to talk with each other, not shout. Although, it is easier said than done. People put politicians into two baskets, one they can buy from and one they cannot."
"I don't believe that walking out is the best way to express dissent or disagreement with people on certain issues."
"Kenyans are the ones to blame if they think the leaders they choose are wrong. They have the power to change that in the next elections."
"my opinion is that if an enemy comes to your home, you don't just sit back and hope that he will leave peacefully. You have to force the enemy out."
"Yes, I moved out at night because I was at work during the day. I searched for another house and within an hour, I had a new home."
"“You say you are bored; you have nothing to do; you cannot be interested in people just because they are people, but only try it! Do things without being interested, and perhaps the interest will grow.”"
"As Hon. Mbui was saying they feel that the opposition is not being heard, but I can always name…look at the opposition side anytime, it is nearly empty, and I can name for you which opposition members speak ."
"Thank you for giving me a lovely marriage, nothing beats the peace of mind you gave us."
"You gave me an adventurous life; we truly lived it as a couple. Thank you for pushing me to be a better version every day."
"Women are naturally peacemakers and are created to keep the peace and protect their homes from external forces."
"So many times they choose to keep off rather than lose their families."
"I asked the people to be realistic and we discussed several things. In most instances, politicians usually lie to voters and promise what they cannot achieve."
"In my journey I have learned that it is the small act that matters to the people. The little things that impact to their life."
"Women make the best leaders because they are most transparent and are less corrupt."
"Kenyans should take time to pray for an immediate end to these abnormal killings of people, stealing of their animals and displacements from homes. It is only through divine intervention that the region can have peace ."
"I have said in fairness of the country, and delivery of service and ensuring those ministries can function in the right way you (a Cabinet Secretary) needs a deputy to have a clear role."
"More development is coming. Kasarani constituency is being built afresh."
"Some people take advantage of the poor state of roads to stage unnecessary demonstrations."
"I was just walking with my colleague Ms. Wanga when he accosted me and started calling me stupid and within minutes he punched me on the cheek."
"I told him that Wajir County was only allocated Ksh.100million and we had to allocate money to only areas of priority to the region like water and roads but he told me that is nonsense."
"I look forward to an exciting journey, utilising my international expertise to promote the values and ideals of the Commonwealth."
"Now as we ask for more women to come into parliament, you need to provide a family-friendly atmosphere."
"Today we need a pay bill number, and I am volunteering today we want to purchase guns. All the households from Muchongoi all the way to Baringo North in the border we need to be given guns. If people can afford motorcycles, then they can afford buying a gun ."
"He is not just a Kamba kingpin but a National leader -who has followings inside and outside Kenya. Therefore he deserves respect and admiration ."
"I joined the Uhuru administration in 2013 and then two years later there were the skirmishes and a couple of ministers left. There were 26 PSs then, and I do recall that I was the only PS who was promoted ."
"You know he is a very heavily built man, he came and told me how can I lose my title and you are the Minister for Lands ."
"The US victim fund was created in the year 2014 and now it has been over two decades and many of the Kenyan victims continue to seek compensation ."
"Consultations were then made by different delegations to discuss the issue. The comment, in Arabic, was made during talks with the Egyptian team."
"In my honest opinion, young people don't need advice, just opportunities. They need space, access to funding and freedom to choose their own career paths."
"As mothers, we remember the terror, atrocities and chilling experiences that Mungiki unleashed within Central Kenya, we remember the fear, the terror, we remember the pain ."
"I laud the commitment of all Zimbabweans to ensuring that Election Day proceeded largely peacefully and urge all political parties and their supporters to honour this pledge in the coming days and to use available legal means for conflict resolution."
"My job description is simple: to build a world where every girl & boy has the tools & support to make their dreams a reality."
"We must design a future that is shaped by women and girls that realizes their rights and aspirations to a world where equality is a reality."
"Strive for peace among people and nations in the face of adversity."
"Don’t let anyone question your right to pursue justice for people and planet."
"We need to use our words for love, peace, and dialogue, creating a world of respect and dignity."
"You need a different skill set that looks at taking advantage of opportunities that are much more of an entrepreneurial skill that you can add as you address many of the market opportunities."
"Any hopefuls who were to participate in the polls were locked out."
"They met secretly and handpicked interim party officials without involving other leaders."
"Yes! The death of my husband. I was only 27 and just two years in my marriage and when my son was still very young. It really brought me down. Then came the death of my dad weeks after my swearing-in as deputy governor. It was not easy losing all the people I love in my life so soon."
"Having misplaced priorities is an issue that is crippling the core essence of devolution."
"With proper priorities, counties can save cash spent on luxusries –k moneys that could be channeled to other areas which are beneficial to the electorate."
"Leaders should focus on public service, not just getting more money for themselves."
"County officials should focus on the welfare of Kenyans and channel money meant for counties to development projects."
"The electorate is yet to taste the fruits of devolution as their leaders prize personal gains over county development."
"Senior County officers are riding 4 by 4 vehicles to escape the muddy roads that they have neglected."
"This amendment seeks to move that fine from Sh200 to Sh 200,000 and a fine of Sh500 to Sh500,000….Which Hustler are you going to fine for removing a notice off a car for half a million Kenya Shillings are you living in Utopia are you living on Mars”?"
"If they are good girls they will never get the corner office. Be a bad girl like Millie Odhiambo and you will be the mother of this house. I am a bad girl and as a bad girl I am serving my fourth term."
"The Chief Justice is a woman and so is the deputy. The Attorney General of Kenya is a woman, and the President of the Law Society of Kenya is a woman too. This is historic and although I am happy with the progress we have made, in 2024 we should not be talking about the first women."
"We need very intensive civic education with the society, because we are socialized to accept discrimination against women even when you notice it. We have a good legislative framework for women, when I first got into Parliament, we were about 16 women in Parliament…now we are over 100."
"Just this week my nephew told me his former classmate took his own life because he had not managed to secure employment for three years. We have a lot of our people who have gone into crime, addiction and depression and that why the government must put its act together and find a way."
"Good girls don't get the corner office!"
"I am proud of our youth, for the first time I thought of retiring because I have seen many Millie Odhiambos in the Gen Z, and that made me happy. I want to encourage them to learn to merge idealism and reality and they should not give up."
"Recently in Parliament I was told that as the mother of the house, I need to be a good example to young female leaders because they need to emulate me. Which translates to I have to sit at the corner and raise my voice a little bit and hope that I'm heard."
"I talked to Raila on Monday evening when he was with Adhiambo. I want to confirm that he said ODM needs to be united as a party."
"When I asked him, ‘Baba, how are you?’ he told me jokingly, ‘Amilo, I’m fine, in the morning I walked around. I’m surprised there are people who have already killed and buried me in Kenya."
"or those who killed and buried Raila before his time, because we are Christians, we will forgive you but we will never forget. For those who stood with Raila, we shall never forget. I thank President William Ruto."
"Your Excellency, President Ruto, I want to thank you. That morning at State House when you broke the news, I was the only ODM woman there among the political class. Before you even said it, I somehow knew. The longest journey I have ever walked was from your office to where I had parked my car. I almost collapsed twice."
"You told us to go and stand with Mama Ida — and I thank you for remembering her, as a woman, in that moment of unbearable pain. We shall never forget that."
"A new government has been formed, and it is prudent that we find a proper direction to benefit our people. I am ready to offer direction to our people."
"We have arrived at this decision having carefully taken stock of the activities preceding the last general election and more so the ill manner in which the party treated us and our supporters through political patronage by individuals who never had the interests of our community at heart."
"Since I am always advocating against period shame, I thought I should go ahead and walk the talk."
"I instigated the conversation around period shame and period stigma with men and boys asserting further that, period shaming starts with the man and the boy, because they have been brought up to believe that if a woman happens to have a stain, it’s an appropriate response to laugh at, or castigate her – and then the woman has been taught that they need to go into hiding. That’s the unlearning that we need to do."
"The first thing that we have been taught is that periods are dirty and shouldn’t be seen."
"I long for the day when accidental period stains will be seen as normal, not shameful. Women and girls are using up valuable sanitary pads by wearing them as a precaution out of anxiety."
"That’s a whole pack that you’ve wasted because of the fear of staining your clothes."
"We need to normalize periods."
"I have never understood why menstruation is spoken of like a secret. She recalled being excited as a teenager to finally have her first period after being the last among her peers to get the mark of womanhood."
"My attitude toward menstruation since then has been open."
"I have warned my teenage son to never shame a girl for having her period."
"I selected the date of 17 August because it was the anniversary of her great-grandfather's detention."
"Girls had a very difficult life, especially those who chose to go to school. I recall some of her schoolmates dropping out just because the boys ordered them to do so. In my twilight years, I expressed disappointment that female liberation veterans were never accorded the same recognition as their male counterparts."
"I accused historians of blacking out the fact that women were arrested alongside the famous Kapenguria Six – Jomo Kenyatta, Achieng’ Oneko, Bildad Kaggia, Fred Kubai, Kung’u Karumba and Paul Ngei. I said there were two women besides the six men, that is, Mama Nyoroka and Sarah Sarai, yet no one knows if such people ever existed. Women were not passive observers in the freedom movement, but played an active role alongside the men."
"There is discrimination in Kenya, contrary to the United Nations convention for the elimination of discrimination against women, which Kenya ratified in 1984."
"I had had a 10- year relationship with Thomas Joseph Mboya, popularly known as Tom Mboya or simply ‘TJ’. This was in the 1950s, before the flamboyant politician became Economic Planning and Development Minister in President Jomo Kenyatta’s administration after Kenya attained independence. I blamed the break-up of my relationship with TJ on his cheating on me with a white woman while I was under an 18-month colonial restriction order."
"I treasure my family, friends and fans alike. Never taking for granted your love. I treasure being comfortable in my skin and loving all of me."
"The legislator is more concerned with his electorate’s burning needs."
"I can relate to where he came from. Mumias, the area he represents, are cane farmers and their issues have more to do with the management of institutions rather than the climate effect on their crop. On the other hand, unemployment is a big issue for most of our youth, and when they are dealing with that, they are not able to relate unemployment to climate change."
"We have to understand that as an MP, the citizens who voted for him are more concerned with maybe housing, medical facilities, bursaries or jobs."
"Every leader relates to these citizens based on their needs, but the fact is that everything is interconnected with climate change. [Salasya] is a man connected with his constituents; he is who he is and they love and respect him. Eventually, he will realise how they are all connected and he will join the conversation."
"The Africa Climate Summit kicked off on Monday and runs until Wednesday. It is themed "Driving Green Growth and Climate Finance Solutions for Africa and the World.""
"I noted a correlation between the issues Kenyans are grappling with and climate change. I said Kenyans should give Salasya time before he eventually understands the connection, terming him a man dedicated to his people."
"I love to be part of positive change in a way that it impacts lives. When I am in a position where I have a say and have the space to do the right thing, I go on overdrive."
"My net worth largely comprises of immovables assets such as houses."
"At the moment I anticipate to get my gratuity from parliament after serving for two terms as well as pension."
"I have three homes, one in Nairobi, Narok and my village and vehicles. I have apartments in Narok and one in Nairobi. Two plots of land in Kitengela and also a dairy business."
"I have done a lot of work in Narok during my 10 years tenure. I managed a scholarship programme for 90 needy children using the affirmative action fund and I am proud that almost all of them went to university. I also focused in the dairy sector where we bought milk coolers managed by women groups and I have seen their lives change through this initiative which has made a turnaround for women in various parts of the country."
"When I first contested for the Narok Woman Representative seat, my rivals used the excuse that I was a young woman and not married who if elected might end up getting married elsewhere. Some people even created imaginary boyfriends for me mostly men from other communities saying that by electing me, I will not be useful to my community. In the beginning I almost quit but realised I would be doing exactly what my rivals wanted which was to keep me out of the race due to my growing popularity. I thank God since I got the support of the majority of women and youths who propelled me to the seat with a landslide win."
"I was long affirmed by my dad when I was a child. He built my confidence by listening to me."
"Further work is needed under the Gender Action Plan in order to facilitate access to climate finance for vulnerable groups, including indigenous peoples and local communities."
"The healing process must begin through localized climate action. We will have more impact when we have the communities involved in the mitigation."
"Despite their ambitious approach, county governments face financial and technical constraints that prevent them from effectively addressing the threats of climate change. Policymakers must collaborate with county governments to make Kenya’s mitigation and adaptation goals a reality."
"I'm qualified. My father did not sell his cows to take a cow to school. None of my competitors can match my academic qualifications."
"Virgin Atlantic is an airline we have actively pursued for the past few years to begin flights to Kenya and we are overjoyed with their decision to add Nairobi to their route schedule. Virgin Atlantic”s quality, high standards and distinction as one of the world”s premier airlines is what we have been pursuing and we know that they will build not only the visitor travel to Kenya but also the business travel sector from the UK and North America."
"I tell residents to be careful with people asking them to pay to get job opportunities. Reject anybody who demands money in exchange of a job for you."
"My office is committed to ensuring that girls acquire education to enable them to achieve their dreams in life."
"Sanitary pads programme enables our girls to remain in school and focus on their academics. We want them to work hard and report sex pests in their midst for appropriate action."
"Probe syndicate using my name to swindle Homa Bay job seekers."
"I appeal to detectives to expedite the probe to stop our people from continuous loss of money."
"The syndicate targets graduates who are known to be in dire need of job opportunities in government. The majority of the people who have fallen victim to the conman-ship are those seeking employment with the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and Public Service Commission (PSC)."
"As a graduate, we are commissioning you to go back to your ministries and give back. Go back and give back. Kenya and Africa are hungry for souls on fire to serve and to serve sincerely and to lead change. You are the change that is well informed about public service."
"You just do not jump into a position because it has been created. You must ensure you did not leave unfinished business behind. Leadership is doing at least 99 percent service to your people, not 50 percent and then you abandon them."
"Before we leap, let us first have a clear sight of the direction we are taking. We need to evaluate the pros and cons in order that we do not isolate our community from the rest of Kenya."
"In many ways Kenya is a model example of community social welfare. It's a community keyed to the extended family, in which each generation helps the other."
"A problem concerning a child is dealt with in the context of its family, never just on its own."
"Although women are the backbone of the economy, we are shy about insisting on our right to more than handouts"
"She was a leader, activist for democracy, freedom, human rights, equality and justice and always stood on the side of the oppressed, particularly women and the poor. She worked tirelessly and with courage, using her razor-sharp intellect to focus thousands, of the task at hand in creative ways which brought her knowledge and everyday life together in very practical ways."
"Wanjiru urged particularly women and others to take responsibility for their lives by become leaders and to live their lives in the centre-fold of humanity, not its margins and she did this by example through practicing what she preached, but also training others and advocating for others."
"The women of Kenya have made Kenya proud through our athletes, the late Wangari Maathai, and the rest. I am so overjoyed because the women have done it."