Naisula Lesuuda

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.

Naisula Josephine Lesuuda (born 30 April 1984), is a Kenyan politician and women's rights activist. She is a Member of the Parliament of Kenya.

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 Samburu West constituency.[13][14] 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.[15][16]

She was re-elected in Samburu West Constituency at the 2022 general election.

Awards and honours

Personal life

Lesuuda is married, and has 2 daughters.].[2][17]

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Naisula Lesuuda Biography and Profile". Soft Kenya. Archived from the original on 27 September 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  2. ^ a b c "EXPOSED: LEAKED SEXY WHATSAPP Chat Between Hon Murkomen and Senator Naisula Lesuuda". Kenya Today. 17 March 2017. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d e Keberenge, Kenfrey (13 May 2012). "Her cause captured Kibaki's eye". Standard. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e Nsehe, Mfonobong (4 December 2014). "The 20 Youngest Power Women In Africa 2014". Forbes. Retrieved 15 July 2017.
  5. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b 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. ^ a b 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. ^ "Journalist to Top MP: Inspiring Story of Naisula Lesuuda". 6 November 2023. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
  14. ^ Welimo, Rose; Anampiu, Collins (10 August 2017). "Mother beats son in Bomet East". KBC. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  15. ^ Vidija, Patrick (25 August 2017). "Lesuuda guns for Deputy Speaker seat as Parliament opens". The Star. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  16. ^ Kabasa, Edward (29 August 2017). "Three cleared to vie for National Assembly speaker position". KBC. Retrieved 31 August 2017.
  17. ^ Karanja, Samuel (18 March 2017). "Kenyans EXPLODE after Murkomen-Lesuda love affair is exposed". Tuko. Retrieved 15 July 2017.