In Kenya, it is never easy especially for a first timer to make it in elective politics. It is especially hard for women who are daring enough to venture into the so called dirty game.
Women candidates are harassed, abused and accused of all manner of things. Their motives are questioned and all means of smear campaigns used against them; this particularly from their fellow women.
It takes a woman of courage to venture into politics. Women have to work twice as much as men to make it in politics. Half of those who start give up along the way and rarely with their reputations intact – not because they are guilty, but because the falsehoods peddled against them are repeated so many times they become the truth.
In Nakuru County, we have many women vying for various seats in the coming general elections. All the aspirants are receiving varying reactions from the electorate especially on social media but the one candidate that has come under extreme scrutiny is the senatorial candidate and current Nakuru County Speaker Susan Kihika.
Susan’s candidature has received passionate reactions from both her diehard supporters and those who for one reason or the other are vehemently opposed to her candidature. Surprisingly, none of the other senatorial aspirants have been dissected as Susan has possibly because they are men.
She has been described as the “Iron Lady” possibly due to the fact that she rarely second guesses herself. Once she has set up her mind on something, she is not known to waiver and this could have rubbed some people the wrong way.
As the head of the legislative arm of Nakuru County, her relationship with the County Executive arm has been a kind of on and off where one day the relationship is good and the other time they are not seeing eye to eye.
Susan is also decisive. She in the recent past led the house in passing some drastic proposals calling for the sacking of some high profile county employees including the County Secretary. She has also been recognized for leading the house with the least amount of sitting allowances for MCAs in 2015/2016 report.
Without a doubt, Susan is a change agent. She’s focused and passionate about what she does and has proven not to be a pushover. Maybe she is the person Nakuru need's as the next Senator and the same reasons for which she is opposed will be the same qualities that will save Nakuru and its people.