At 33, she believes she will be Molo’s next MP
When she quit her well-paying job in December, 2016 in the private sector to join the murky world of politics, Maryann Njambi Mugo did it out of a deep conviction, a calling.
Now at 33 years, Ms Mugo believes she will trounce her opponents in the August 8 general elections and become the first female Member of Parliament of Molo Constituency in Nakuru County on a Kanu ticket.
Ms Mugo, a mother of one is a co-founder and Director of Sauti Ya Jamii Programme, an International NGO that spearheads youth and women empowerment in Kenya.
“It is this passion, love for the community and a strong belief in transformative leadership that has led me to this decision to run for the Member of Parliament seat for Molo constituency in 2017. My faith in possibility is my key to my dream,” Ms Mugo said.
She added that, she wanted to give back to the people of Molo who put her through school and stop the male dominated politics in the constituency.
QUIT JUBILEE
Mugo quit the ruling Jubilee Party in March after paying Sh125,000 fee and had been cleared to run for the seat.
Asked why, she said the party has many challenges, which she did not elaborate, but added that the party supports 80 percent of the incumbents.
“I knew I had no chance with the Jubilee primaries no matter how good I was on the ground, so I decided to move. Most of the incumbents will take money to the party leaders and get favours which we cannot get,” she said.
Ms Mugo explains why she opted for politics yet she had a bright future in the corporate world.
“Growing up in somewhat broken family I felt empowered and wanted to help these women and the youth out there. I want to lead them by bringing change and empowering them. I have confidence that I’m up to the task,” she said.
The last born in a family of three and the only girl, she says that no one in her family has ever been in politics, but politics has always been her passion since she was in college.
MAJOR MILESTONE
She says her experience in serving in the National Executive Committee of Chama Cha Uzalendo as the national assistant treasurer from 2009 to 2012 will come in handy.
“Before that I was the Secretary General of the Kenyatta University Students Association (KUSA), between 2006 and 2007. During that period I spearheaded the review of the students association’s constitution, a major milestone in my leadership. In addition, I have served as a member of the University Council for 14 months as the representative of student’s affairs,” she says.
Ms Mugo holds a Bachelors of Marketing degree, a Diploma in Charted Institute of Marketing (CIM) UK and is currently pursuing her Masters degree in International Studies at the University of Nairobi.
She has worked with multinationals and local companies such as Coca Cola, GSK, Unilever, Bidco and Kenafric to name a few, in East Central and West Africa, under Nielsen.
In Molo, she will face a newcomer Kuria Kimani who trounced the incumbent Jacob Macharia during the recent Jubilee Party primaries.
