A Canada-based TV host has announced plans to vie for a parliamentary seat in Kenya after nearly two decades away from her home country.
In an exclusive interview with Kenyans.co.ke, Lucy Jeffrey, who has spent much of her career in Canada, revealed she has decided to drop her political ambitions in Canada to solely focus on Kenya.
The TV host shared interesting intrigues on the differences between governance in Canada and Kenya, drawing on her experiences in both countries and explaining the stark difference in governance.
According to Jeffrey, whose roots are rooted in Kenya, one of the biggest differences between Kenya and Canada lies in the accessibility of leaders.
"Canada’s political system places a premium on structure, accountability, and the rule of law. Services are citizen-centred, and there’s a clear separation between public duty and personal gain. Kenya has brilliant minds and resilient communities, but our politics still struggles with accountability and delivery,” she explained.
“Parliamentarians in Canada are more accountable to their constituents than to their parties. It’s easier for the average citizen to approach a Canadian MP. Offices are open, and public engagement is a routine part of governance.”
Asked which seat she was eyeing, the businesswoman revealed she sought to succeed Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi, who has been tipped to contest for the Bungoma Parliamentary seat.
In Canada, Lucy, who also doubles up as a businesswoman, revealed she has had several engagements with the youth, including founding a platform to voice concerns from Kenyans living abroad.
During the interview, the Canada-based host also addressed potential criticism, since she intended to contest for a seat in Kenya despite being away from the country for nearly two decades.
While acknowledging that the Kenyan political landscape has likely changed since her departure, Lucy insisted her stint abroad had advantages since she could leverage political cultures from a first-world country.
“I have gained so much knowledge in Canada that if I am given a chance, I can use it to change our country for the better, starting with my constituency,” she told Kenyans.co.ke. “I already spend six months of the year in Kenya and six months in Canada. My plan is to live in Kenya permanently from 2027.”
Notably, the host was previously working on registering a political party in Canada but ultimately decided to shift her focus to Kenya. Asked why the change in heart, Lucy denied abandoning her political ambitions in Canada, instead describing it as a simple change in strategy.
She particularly focused on Westlands because a large part of her upbringing was in the Westlands constituency prior to her relocation abroad.
“It wasn’t an abandonment; it was a redirection,” she reiterated. “I realised that even if I became an MP in Canada, I would not have the time or emotional space to serve Kenya the way I’m being called to now. The decision came from a place of deep introspection. Kenya is my origin, and it’s where I believe I can make the most transformative impact.”
