Popular Singer Hellen Kigia in Race to Succeed Senator Kang’ata

A popular gospel singer wants to continue enhancing and transforming lives by influencing public policies that affect her people.

Hellen Kigia has already done this through her music.

With a strong desire to change how things are done in her county, she is contending for the Murang’a Senatorial seat on a Farmers Party ticket.

Kigia, also known by her stage name Ngwanirira, says that her main goal is to eliminate disparities and that the Senate is the ideal forum.

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She points out that the Senate is the place where disparities and inequities will be thoroughly addressed by holding local and national authorities accountable for the use of public funds.

“We are not short of resources in this country. What we need is to close the loopholes that have created an enabling environment for leaders not to perform or deliver to their people as promised in their campaign bids,” she told the Nation.

“We teach children to be better and to thrive to their fullest potential. But something happens after we have done our work and it is this ‘something’ that we must figure out. The Senate in its oversight role can hold people in public office accountable to ensure every penny counts.”

Kigia speaks highly of education and her lifelong mission to develop a powerful human capital that can successfully and efficiently satisfy the needs of the labor market.

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She has been a teacher for more than 20 years.

“I have taught in the classroom and through music. I now want to influence at the national level, advocating for and lobbying the people of Murang’a. I bring a leadership that is sensitive to the needs of the people, that is attentive and responsive,” she said.

She also brings with her managerial abilities, having previously held positions as deputy chairperson of the Ministry of Education’s Central region and chair of the music business in Murang’a County.

Despite this being her first foray into competitive politics, she is optimistic that the electorate will give her the opportunity to lead.

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“First, I am interested in helping meet the two-third gender rule at the Senate. It is very important that the political space gives us a representation that is gender-balanced. Both women and men are needed in political decision making processes because they play a very complementary role,” she told the daily.

She points out that in the absence of equal representation, women are excluded and stay on the periphery of decision-making processes that determine the course of the county and the nation.

“In the Senate, the few women who are there are able to talk for men, women, youths and children because, more often than not, men are not effective in addressing issues that affect them.”

Kigia is of the idea that women’s perspectives on topics are inclusive and do not exclude those with special needs.

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However, they have a difficult road ahead of them if they are to contribute to solving some of these problems. According to Kigia, female politicians encounter numerous difficulties. Among them is inaccurate representation.

They are labelled as “women with lose morals and are accused of relying on and living off men. People also say that if you give women a little power, they become unmanageable and too proud”.

Now, she says, the public is open to more women taking up space in the political world. Women, she adds, are better resource managers.

“There is significant misuse of resources. Women are transparent, they are legacy driven and highly accountable, and these are the qualities that I intend to bring to the political table. I have been an administrator and my record speaks for itself.”

Kigia is competing against Joe Nyutu (UDA), Pius Kinuthia (ODM), Kembi Gitura (Jubilee) and Stanley Karuri.