Naisula Lesuuda

Naisula Lesuuda (born 30 April 1984) is a Kenyan politician and women's rights activist.

Naisula Lesuuda (R) with Onofiok Luke, a lawyer and legislator, and with Kenyan Ambassador to Somalia, Yvonne Khamati (L), on the final day of the African Union Youth Pre-forum in Nairobi in September 2014.

Early life and education

Lesuuda was born in Samburu on 30 April 1984,[1] the first of three children born to an Anglican bishop and a businesswoman.[2] She graduated from Daystar University with a degree in communications and community development.[1][2][3]

Career

Lesuuda worked as a journalist at the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, including hosting Good Morning Kenya.[4] In 2009, after ten people were killed in cattle rustling in Laikipia, she became a founding member of the Laikipia Peace Caravan.[3][1][5] This in turn led to the founding of a number of other local peace organisations, supported by the Kenya government and USAid.[3] In 2010, her work with this organisation led to her becoming the youngest Kenyan woman to win the presidential Order of the Grand Warrior.[3][6]

In 2013, Lesuuda left her job to found the Naisula Lesuuda Peace Foundation which advocates for the education of girls and for the eradication of female genital mutilation and child marriage.[4][7][3]

Lesuuda participated in President Uhuru Kenyatta's campaign in 2013,[8] and was then nominated on his TNA party ticket to represent Samburu County in the Senate in 2013, becoming its youngest female member.[4][9] She was then elected Vice Chair of the Kenyan Women's Parliamentary Association.

In 2016, she announced that she would leave the Senate to seek election as a member of the National Assembly for Samburu West,[10] then in 2017 switching from the Jubilee to KANU party.[11][8] She has maintained her support for Kenyatta.[9]

At the 2017 election, Lesuuda was elected with 14,560 votes, defeating incumbent Jonathan Lelelit who received 13,970 votes,[12] becoming the first female member of parliament for the constituency.[13] When parliament sat in August 2017, she announced her intention to apply for the position of Deputy Speaker, but failed to submit her application before the vote.[14][15]

Awards and honours

Personal life

Lesuuda is unmarried.[11] In 2017, stories emerged in the Kenyan press about a relationship between Lesuuda and her married Senate colleague, Kipchumba Murkomen.[2][16]

References
  1. "Naisula Lesuuda Biography and Profile". Soft Kenya. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  2. "EXPOSED: LEAKED SEXY WHATSAPP Chat Between Hon Murkomen and Senator Naisula Lesuuda". Kenya Today. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  3. Keberenge, Kenfrey (13 May 2012). "Her cause captured Kibaki's eye". Standard. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  4. Nsehe, Mfonobong (4 December 2014). "The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa 2014". Forbes. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  5. Njogu, Kimani (2013). Youth and Peaceful Elections in Kenya. African Books Collective. p. 162. ISBN 9789966028372.
  6. Nkem-Eneanya, Jennifer (27 May 2015). "Senator at 30: Kenya's Naisula Lesuuda is Breaking Boundaries and Advocating for the Girl-Child". Konnect Africa. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  7. Jaiyesimi, Adedoyin (26 January 2017). "Meet Naisula Lesuuda, the youngest female member of the Kenyan Senate at age 30!". Leading Ladies Africa. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  8. Mukere, Tony (13 March 2017). "Senator Naisula Lesuuda Defects from Jubilee to Kanu as she vies for Samburu West MP". Kenyas.co.ke. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  9. Oruko, Ibrahim; Rugene, Njeri (29 June 2017). "Nominated women senators now seek various elective positions". Daily Nation. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  10. Fundi, Martin (5 September 2016). "Senator Naisula 'ready to challenge men for MP in 2017'". The Star. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  11. Mwangi, William (12 March 2017). "Senator Naisula Lesuuda ditches Jubilee for Kanu". The Star. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  12. Fundi, Martin (10 August 2017). "[VIDEO] Lesuuda floors heavyweight Lelelit in Samburu West MP race". THe Star. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  13. Welimo, Rose; Anampiu, Collins (10 August 2017). "Mother beats son in Bomet East". KBC. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  14. Vidija, Patrick (25 August 2017). "Lesuuda guns for Deputy Speaker seat as Parliament opens". The Star. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  15. Kabasa, Edward (29 August 2017). "Three cleared to vie for National Assembly speaker position". KBC. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  16. Karanja, Samuel (18 March 2017). "Kenyans EXPLODE after Murkomen-Lesuda love affair is exposed". Tuko. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
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