Hon. Martha Karua for President

It is about that time again when Kenyans go to the polls (National Elections). I have not been following closely so one thing had not yet occured to me: there is a female candidate already in the race (declared her interest ahead of all others). Her name, Martha Karua, MP of Gichugu constituency in Central Province.

So how did I get to know about her? I was chatting over lunch with some Kenyans and of course the topical issue at the time (to me) was the Kenya Presidential elections 2012. I started by dividing it into three: Mzee Mwai Kibaki's declaration of his retirement (held a 'thank you' party in his constituency and the message was that 30 years was a long enough time for him to have represented them); the succession question and the individuals on the queue for the presidency of the Republic of Kenya. It was not long before I exposed my ignorance about the latter. I mentioned three names of the 'usual suspects', all of them male. One of the ladies in my company added an unfamiliar name (to me) and I missed it initially. I seem to have offended them when I said I wasn't aware there was a lady in the queue.

I took interest in learning more about the lady (in the queue). In their attempt to stress why I should have known Hon. Martha Karua and also to emphasise how capable she is, the three Kenyan ladies gave me a phrase I have never heard and of course will not forget. They said Hon. Karua was once described thus: "She was the only man in Kibaki's (negotiation) team". This was at the time negotiations were heated up about the Kenya election results and 'power sharing' agreement about 5 years ago.

I will keep myself constantly updated by Hon. Karua about her progress via Twitter - @Martha_W_Karua; her campaign website and on Facebook.

Her message is, 'Jitokeze for a greater Kenya!'. Something in her website closely resembles President Barack Obama's campaign website of 2008. He won the elections and became the first Black American with Kenyan blood to become President of the United States of America. Could this mean something about the first Kenyan woman President? Who knows?

Well, what else can I say except, I wish you well Mama.