Kirinyaga Jubilee gubernatorial candidate Ann Waiguru. She is among the tens of women from Central region seeking political seats this year who are using the phrase 'minji minji' to refer to themselves. [Photo: politics.co.ke]
So, almost every woman politician seeking for an elective seat this election year especially from Mt Kenya region is going by the phrase 'minji minji?'
For starters, 'minji' is a Gikuyu word for green peas. However, the use of the phrase 'minji minji' in our context here means, a young beautiful, sexy and irresistible damsel in her late teens or early twenties. Not something like 'peas peas' as one may perhaps translate. Now you get?That said, let me briefly again in this context give you the etymology of our phrase or its origin, history and how it has come not just to refer to 'green peas' alone in the Gikuyu daily conversations more so among youths.Well, the usage of this phrase started or at least has been given prominence by a Gikuyu radio presenter (Kamau Kang'ethe) who hosts a popular show dubbed 'Ngogoyo' on Sundays where old Gikuyu traditional folk songs are played. So, whenever the presenter wants to 'mischievously' refer to young ladies, she will mostly refer to them as 'minji minji.'And due to the popular usage of the phrase and its positive connotation, almost every Gikuyu lady, young or past menopause, will give you a wide, lovely smile if you refer to them as 'minji minji.' Try it.This perhaps, informs why many women politicians in Central Kenya vying for various political seats this year may have embraced the phrase with both hands without even caring to give credit to its originator.From Kiambu, Muranga, Nyeri, Nyandarua to Kirinyaga, you will find countless women candidates going by this 'minji minji' phrase. This has endeared them mostly to male voters who perceive them as young, beautiful, sharp, modern, outgoing and many other positive attributes a woman may posses. This is even when the bearer of the phrase has no single 'minji minji' quality. Take for instance Kiambu Jubilee Women Rep candidate Gathoni Wa Muchomba at age 42, Kirinyaga Jubilee gubernatorial candidate Ann Waiguru at 45 and many others and try to weigh them on our 'minji minji' definition scale. Do they fit the bill? To conclude, let me put this disclaimer. Don't go calling any woman 'minji minji!' The no-nonsense type may not take it kindly and the consequences may be dire.