Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Muthoni Passaris has revealed how President Uhuru Kenyatta's sister mentored her in taking up a career in politics.
The Nairobi County member indicated that Margaret Wambui Kenyatta, Uhuru's step-sister, was among the few women she looked up to before joining politics.
According to Passaris, Wambui who rose from being Dagoretti Ward Councillor (1963) to serving as the Mayor of Nairobi (1970 to 1976) was an idol she looked up to when she made her first stab for Nairobi city mayor position in 2007.
[caption caption="Esther Passaris with DP Ruto"]
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Speaking fondly of the eminent woman who also served as Kenya's Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1976 to 1986), Passaris noted: "There were many before us that dared and that is why we are in that space today."
The legislator further added that for her, "parliament is more special when you know you are seating amongst great women."
Wambui who passed away in April 2017 at the age of 89 was the first daughter of the founding President Jomo Kenyatta and the first female to enrol at Alliance Boys High School (1948) as there was no high school for African girls at the time.
Passaris also singled out that Grace Onyango, the first woman Mayor in post-independent Kenya (Kisumu, 1967) was another of her political idols in the then male-dominated field.
Onyango equally broke the proverbial glass ceiling and was the first woman MP in post-independent Kenya after winning Kisumu Town seat in 1969 against 10 male opponents.
Both Wambui and Onyango played an important role in redefining gender relations by fighting gender discrimination in post-independent Kenya.
[caption caption="Esther Passaris with Grace Onyango"]
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Their quest for leadership in what hitherto was "no place for women," is a remarkable tale of sheer struggle that epitomized boldness and dedication to the cause in creating space for women in the country's political arena.
