Leadership runs in Kiambu Woman Representative, Ann Nyokabi Gathecha’s family, being a cousin to President Uhuru Kenyatta. Her aunt, Margaret Mumbi, lets us in on Nyokabi’s childhood, political life and more
Little was known about Ann Nyokabi Gathecha until 2013 when she was elected Kiambu County Women’s Representative. But, it seems she was born into political royalty.
She is a cousin to President Uhuru Kenyatta. “Nyokabi’s father is the third born in the family of Mama Ngina Kenyatta. Marriage in the olden days was mostly planned. And that is how it was for Nyokabi’s father, and her mother who is my sister.
But of course, this was with the blessings of Nyokabi’s grandfather Gatheca Muhoho who was a chief back in the olden days,” says Margaret Mumbi, Nyokabi’s favourite aunt who she refers to as ‘my keeper’. Nyokabi is a second born in a family of eight.
According to her aunt, her leadership skills did not come to them as a surprise nor from her connection to the president. Despite the fact that she had an older brother, Mumbi says that Nyokabi’s parents looked up to her to give directions to her other siblings.
Mumbi ,who works at Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) in charge of the customer service department, and saw her niece through her childhood and adolescent years, speaks fondly of the relationship between the president and Nyokabi.
She describes the relationship between the two as ‘very close’ due to the fact that their age difference is not wide that apart and their parents were also friends.
Family and politics
But she notes the frequent meetings between the president and the extended family have thinned considerably since he was elected in 2013. “He is now the President and has a busy schedule running the country. But before that, they would hang out together most of the times,” explained Mumbi.
Nyokabi studied political science, but opted to pursue a career in corporate banking and university administration instead. So, why did she sacrifice the comfort and glitz of the corporate sector for the ever-nauseating Kenyan politics?
“She wanted to solve the problems of our society,” Mumbi says adding,“Unlike before, there is expanded democratic space today and it is easier to solve societal problems through politics.”
Married to a Jamaican, Denvon Nesbitt, Nyokabi has had her own fair share of ups and downs as a wife and a mother away from being a politician. Her husband of more than 20 years and whom she met in Canada has not been in the country for quite a long time as he is undergoing treatment in Canada.
Sick husband
Mumbi says that it has not been easy for Nyokabi to juggle between family, work and politics since her husband was diagnosed with kidney failure in 2013, when she was elected as Kiambu’s Women Representative. Despite a rough year, Nyokabi was able to earn the first Kiambu Women Representative title.
“The lowest moment for Nyokabi was when her husband was hospitalised in Canada. She had to leave her children to attend to her husband.
Being outside the country, with a sick husband and leaving children who needed a mother’s presence and also being campaign moment,was Nyokabi’s most trying time,” says Mumbi.
“People will always wonder how this family is able to have a lot, but the truth is in how we raise all our children. We do not believe in handouts, but in helping to rise and appreciate their hustle and that is why you see Nyokabi mostly focused on creating avenues for employment and a money saving culture for women,” Mumbi adds.
Nyokabi has gained favour with her constituents over the years because she is not only aggressive, but tactful. Also as the aunt says, she would not be surprised if one day she would wish to vie for the presidential seat.
The post The making of Kiambu Women’s Representative appeared first on Mediamax Network Limited.