"Dreams are valid no matter where you come from" is a phrase that better describes a former house help of the late President Daniel arap Moi's household who rose to become an MP.
According to a report by The Standard, former Rongai MP Alicen Chelaite, moved in with the former president's family where she served as a house help.
At the time, the former head of state was a teacher at Kabarnet High School and his wife, Lena, also served as a local teacher.
"My father was a friend to the Moi’s, so that’s how I ended up moving to stay with the Moi family at their home. I used to take care of Jonathan and Jennifer.
“Lena respected me. We even used to share meals together and whenever she bought her children gifts, I would also receive something. The couple treated me like their daughter," recounted Chelaite who was 13 years old when he moved in with the family.
She disclosed that she witnessed Moi's transition into power from his teaching days until he got elected to join the Legislative Council (Legco).
Duties at the home increased as Moi brought in high profile visitors and entrusted her with tendering to them.
“I won Moi’s confidence that he trusted me with his visitors. The house was a hive of activities being the home of a prominent politician in Rift Valley,” he continued.
She attended Kapropita Girls High School with the help of the Moi family and when she completed, she enrolled for a secretarial course before serving as a secretary at the provincial administration.
“Leaving the first family did not disconnect me from Moi and his wife. I would meet the children back home and even Moi would pass via the office. He remembered me and encouraged me to perform my roles diligently,” she continued.
In 1978, she threw her heart in the political ring after bagging a nomination as a councilor. She later vied in 1984 and became Nakuru Municipality Councillor.
“He (Moi) encouraged me to be a servant of people, and through such, I decided to give a try in politics,” she narrated.
She made history in 1996 after being the first woman to clinch the Nakuru mayor seat and launched her MP ambition by vying for the Rongai Parliamentary seat in 1997.
Although she lost, she tried again in 2002 and won. In 2003, former President Mwai Kibaki appointed her as an Assistant Minister of Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services.
“As a mayor and elected MP, I worked very closely with Moi. There are times he would organise meetings at State House where we could meet and share issues affecting the area, and instantly, he would come up with a solution,” she remarked.
In 2007, she resigned from her position to concentrate on farming.
