In an interview with media personality Willis Raburu, Ms. Chege confidently shared her ambition to become Kenya’s first female Head of State. She fervently prayed for this opportunity, emphasizing the unique qualities women bring to leadership, describing them as nurturing and capable of caring for everyone in their role as mothers.
In addition to her aspirations, Ms. Chege also compared the leadership styles of men and women. She suggested that male leaders at times exhibit more aggressive and forceful approaches, while women tend to bring a more collaborative and compassionate touch to their leadership.
Ms. Chege’s political journey commenced in 2013 when she was elected as the Woman Representative for Murang’a County, a role she held until the previous year. During the lead-up to the recent elections, she initially expressed interest in becoming the running mate of the then Deputy President, William Ruto, before ultimately aligning herself with Opposition leader Raila Odinga’s camp.
Following the elections, the Jubilee Party nominated Ms. Chege to the National Assembly. However, she later led a faction within the party that shifted their allegiance to President Ruto’s faction amid internal power struggles. In a significant turn of events, the splinter group appointed Ms. Chege as the acting party leader, replacing the retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Explaining the decision, Ms. Chege revealed that out of 28 National Executive Committee members, 24 supported her appointment as the acting party leader. She accepted this role with humility, emphasizing her commitment to strengthening the Jubilee party.
Reflecting on Jubilee’s history, which includes participation in two elections, Ms. Chege highlighted the party’s renewed focus on rebuilding its structures and ensuring its long-term viability, mirroring the successful trajectory of Mr. Odinga’s ODM party.
