FAQ's
How old are you?
I am 44 years old, born October 20, 1964.
What is your parentage?
Kikuyu mother, Greek father.
What is the make up of your family?
I have four sisters and one brother, two children, a boy aged 8 and daughter aged 13
I have one living grandmother
Are you in a relationship?
I never really know how to answer this because what I have and how I define relationships don’t match. So let’s leave it as Yes and No.
Can you date a poor man?
No. I am as my ex put it, high maintenance. The love you get from a rich man and poor man is the same, so why settle for less comfort. If you don’t have the money and want a woman, work harder. Don’t blame me for wanting to maximize, blame yourself for not maximizing on your potential – anyone can be rich, go for it. After all we can’t live on air and love and I don’t have time to waste on short term relationships.
Why did you run for mayor?
Many reasons, but the main one was to bring accountability and services to the people, by addressing corruption and inefficiency through structures and laying down a vision. If I could bring light where there was darkness, I could definitely do this job well.
Why did you run for MP of Embakasi?
It was an opportunity to serve a big section of Nairobi and address the challenges of poverty and accountability. The dumping site in the constituency also gave me a challenge and I just did not want to see another bad leader sworn into our parliament.
What next after Embakasi and the mayor failures?
I have decided politics and politicking wastes a lot of money and time. I would like to focus on making a difference. I shall launch my foundation within the year, and work with leaders to address poverty and achieve the MDGs.
Will you quit ODM?
Yes, I will quit active participation in the party affairs.
Do you see ODM with a future?
Yes, though ODM has many challenges, I have a lot of faith in its leaders, and pray they stay united for the good of the people. Even after the flee dies, the itch remains for a while. ODM had and has a good vision for Kenya; it is still the platform for change and will get there a step at a time the only challenge being staying united and spreading its wings across Kenya.
Who do you think is best suited for president?
Raila Odinga. He has what it takes and he deserves the chance. And it’s what we need to do to get rid of stereotype political brainwashing. Anyone, any sex, any tribe, any age can lead Kenya. He is our ultimate test; I want to see him in State House. He can do the job, we can make it happen. We just need to break the “Kiuyk -kamba” alliance and all other alliances that create tribal division.
What do you think of Martha Karua?
Hardworking, aggressive, arrogant, and recently humbling; she can make a good President too but I am disappointed with her past failures in addressing corruption head on and indeed getting us going on the constitution. She is talking the peoples language let her show us her stuff before 2012 and then we see. Kenya needs a leader who will go to minus zero against corruption. She also needs to create a national face that unites and that’s the challenge as a few will want to own her.
Do you think it is time for a woman president?
No. I think its time for a visionary, no nonsense, sincere, hardworking, focused leader who will say only what he means and do what has to be done without favour. Its not about a women or a man, it’s about a promised leadership delivered by the people, to the people and for the people.
Can Kenya be saved – from bad leadership, corruption, impunity, tribalism etc?
All that you consider negative – crime, drugs abuse. The answer is yes. It’s a long journey that has yet to begin. It needs commitment and absolute unity. I liken Kenyan to the second independence, as Martha Karua said, its either we sink or swim.
Is there a leader that you respect?
Yes. We have many good leaders; the question is not whether I or you respect them. It’s a question of if they can hold that respect throughout their elective term. I have often sadly heard; “ he was so good until we gave him a position and he became like all of them”. That needs to change. That has to change. Let us also remember that our leaders are human and when that leads to negative performance, we have to fire them quickly before damage is done. Checks and balances will raise the bar of respect.
Are you a fighter?
No am a defender of what is right. I am a woman with the “balls” to stand up for what I believe in. Lucky for me, I have been consistent. I think it has gotten me where I am. Kenya is a male dominated society, so if a woman stands up when she is not told to, talks when she is not asked to, and knows her right and is bold enough to stand on her feet, she gets branded a “fighter”, so be it.
Do you think we are a one-stop-shop for local and foreign investors?
I think we are a one stop shop for deals, big deals ; deals that make big money all you got to do is show the way and all will be facilitated with such impunity. The genuine foreign and local investors are alone struggling to make it and if we not careful we will lose even the ones that we perceive are successful and well grounded in Kenya. It is time to serve and stop deal cutting. It is in human to eat eat and eat, Kenya is bleeding.
What’s your biggest challenge is life?
Losing weight; staying away from chocolates and cookies – my stress vices; tummy sit ups.
What is the worst things you have ever done?
Gone out with a married man and succumbing to extortion when I did not know better.
What do you hate most about the Kenyan worker?
I hate the fact that he is not service oriented. I look at the service in Kenya – say you go into any coffee joint and you have to wait. You literary have to call for your bill and for every other service, and there will be six or seven waiters standing around. Then you go to a Starbucks in Europe, and you find two people who do everything and so efficiently.
I think here we don’t have the speed for work. It’s almost like we feel we are doing the owner a favour to work for him, rather than realizing it as a job. Whether it’s a toilet cleaner, a restaurant waiter, CEO of a company – whatever the job – you have got to do it with passion and drive. I hate the fact that we lack continuous drive.
Who is your greatest role model and why?
Locally I look up to Wangari Maathai as her vision was clear even though we haven’t got it yet. She is humble and always returns calls. I am proud of her and I wish Kenyans would embrace her like the world has done. She has a message that we have to hear because it’s a matter of life and death. She is also very spiritual and like me she is at home with the very rich and powerful and the poor and general worker.
Given one role to accomplish on earth, what would it be?
To stop the speed train called greed and get a few people into the speed train called caring and sharing. Greed is evil..
What do you love most about Kenya?
The people were always on the top of the list until we started killing each other; taking drugs and alcohol like nonsense. Let me now say I love the innocent children of tomorrow and the climate.
Your favorite holiday destination?
Mombasa White sands hotel where my kids and I are at home.
Your preferred choice of food African or European dishes? Why?
Kenyan, ugali with sukuma or cabbage, it is very tasty and healthy.
Inspiration
“The real preparation for education is the study of one's self.”
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