Nominated Senator Rose Nyamunga is among the few women who have successfully conquered Nyanza politics that has long been dominated by male politicians. But is the former Kisumu Women Representative just riding on luck in her political maneuvers?
Well, coming from a family with a shiny political CV, Nyamunga's political success can be attributed to her background which has for long dominated Kisumu politics.
Former powerful Foreign Affairs Minister during President Daniel Arap Moi's tenure, Dr. John Robert Ouko is her uncle. Then, her own husband, Erick Nyamunga served as Nyando MP from 2003- 2007.
Though she was politically active since the 1990s, Nyamunga never held any elective seat. It was until 2013 when she contested the newly- created Women Representative position which she won by a landslide.
To many, she won the seat not because she was politically strong but rather because she was riding on clear political path created by her relatives.
In 2017, she met her match in Rosa Buyu, the woman who is seen by many as self-made having taken male politicians in Kisumu head on since 2007. And as expected, Buyu trounced the incumbent in the race for ODM ticket to run for Women Representative.
Luck knocked again as ODM came to her rescue ad nominated her to the Senate, a move that gave her political lifeline.