Reading an article in today’s Daily Nation weekend magazine on Yvonne Khamati. Her career, the rumors (about her affairs with some prominent politician) and politics. I admired how she’s risen in social life and career at a very young age of 26 years only.
At only 21 years she contested on SDP Party ticket for Makadara constituency seat, after she lost the Narc nomination to Reuben Ndolo. She was nominated for EALA assembly, was appointed ambassador to African Union in May but was recently recalled. She is now the CEO of Musikari Kombo foundation and also working in the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The other notable thing about her is that she schooled in the UK. Her grandfather was a senator John Lawrence Khamati. Has worked with UN though this could be because she represented the youth in various UN conferences around the world from age 16.
This is a familiar story with most of our politicians, some are former Presidents sons, former Vice Presidents sons, former MPs sons, former chiefs sons/daughter etc.. and the list continues.
Due to their social standing in the society; they and their relatives got good jobs, big posts in government, their children went to good schools locally and abroad, hence this trend has continued generation after generation.
This trend in Kenya, and Africa as a whole, is the root cause of the continued increase in poverty because of inequality. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer because those with connections in high places hold more than one job, yet so many qualified people are jobless or take any other job they can find.
It is sad that one can only rise in politics being a descendant of a former politician or a relative. If not one must have a political godfather to push for a nomination to be elected.
Being an election year, we hope to see some change from this trend. We should elect leaders for their performance or what they stand for but not because they are a son/daughter of so and so. Leaders should not be forced on us because they are related to anyone. I also hope to see more women in parliament and civic seats no matter what party they stand on.
Enough is enough!
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