From house help to governor in Kenya

One of Kenya’s seven recently elected female governors has revealed she dropped out of high school temporarily as a teenager to work as a domestic worker. (BBC)

Kawira Mwangaza, who has just been sworn in as the new governor of Meru county, said it happened when she was aged around 14 because her family was poor.

“I worked as a house help for almost a year. It was difficult but I knew deep down I was born a winner,” the politician, who is in her late forties, told the BBC.

“I never gave up hope that one day I would escape from the claws of poverty and succeed in life.”

House helpers in Kenya are often underpaid and work for long hours in an unregulated industry.

But her determination saw her through and she went back to school the next year – and then went on to fund her college education with proceeds from a small business.

After becoming a successful businesswoman, Ms Mwangaza became interested in politics in 2013, running unsuccessfully for parliament.

Four years later she was triumphant after being elected as county woman representative – a special seat aimed at increasing female representation in parliament.

She has gone on to prove her political clout, by trouncing political bigwig Kiraitu Murungi, who was seeking a second term in office as governor.

Her campaign drew large crowds as she would bring her husband Mwarega Baichu, a musician and producer, along to rallies where he would entertain supporters on his guitar.

Female politicians in Kenya often experience sexism and bullying and very few hold elective positions.

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