Women Politicians In Kenya

"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."