Winfred Nyiva Mwendwa is the former Kitui Woman Representative.
She is among the longest-serving and veteran Kamba politicians.
Nyiva quit active politics in the run-up to the 2017 general election.
The former veteran Kamba politician was the first woman to be appointed as a Cabinet Minister in retired President Daniel Arap Moi’s government.
Born and raised at Matinyani District in Kitui, Nyiva was married to Kenya’s first black Chief Justice, Kitili Maluki Mwendwa.
She schooled at Matinyani primary school before she proceeded to Alliance Girls High School for her secondary education.
Nyiva Mwendwa then enrolled for a Diploma in Education at the University of Nairobi (UoN).
She later enrolled for a Bachelor’s Degree in Textile Design and Science at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom (UK).
After her Bachelor’s Degree, Nyiva enrolled for a Master's Degree in Textile Science and Interior Design at Cornell University in the USA.
Nyiva won the Kitui West Parliamentary seat on a KANU ticket in 1992.
In 1997, she was appointed Social and Cultural services Cabinet Minister.
The veteran politician is a close ally of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
She is expected to play a key part in the 2022 Kamba succession politics.
#hivisasaoriginal
#historynow