Kenyan Woman wins mayor seat in UK

United Kingdom: Her composure depicts that of an ordinary Kenyan woman, one that betrays her ability to do the extraordinary, at least considering her humble background.

But Elizabeth Wanjiku Kang'ethe has broken political barriers abroad to hold among the highest positions in East London and for her sky is the limit.

Born in Ngewa village, Githunguri in Kiambu County, Ms Kang'ethe has raised her profile and to many, her story could pass as an imaginary narration.

Last week, Wanjiku who was elected councillor in the United Kingdom in 2010, updated her political profile in the foreign land after she became the new Mayor of Barking and Dagenham for 2014–2015.

She was officially elected at the Annual Ceremonial Council held on June 6, replacing Cllr Hardial Singh Rai.

Wanjiku has been a member of the Council since 2010 when she was elected as Councillor for Parsloes ward on a Labour Party ticket - making history as the first British of Kenyan origin to be elected councillor.

Elizabeth joins the current Mayor of Southwark, Councillor Abdul Mohamed who is also from Kenya, Kenya London News website reported.

The position of Mayor, according to the news site, is very ceremonial and her primary role will be to promote civic pride and community cohesion.

According to her website, www.elizabethkangethe.com, Wanjiku was elected unopposed for the position.

Through an email, she told The Standard that dad and brother travelled to UK on Friday where “they had a wonderful time” as it was the official civic ceremony or inauguration and on Sunday they had a civic service starting with a parade led by a band.

Cllr Wanjiku, a fourth born in family of five girls and two boys, and a mother of one says on her website: “I am thrilled to be elected to serve as the Mayor of Barking and Dagenham for 2014 - 2015 and I am looking forward to representing the borough and working with our residents, the different community organisations and local businesses,”

I have chosen The Teenage Cancer Trust as my choice of charity to support during my year of office. The charity helps to improve the lives of teenagers and young adults living with cancer.”

After winning the civic seat, a party was held at her parents’ home at Ndathini village, Githunguri  to welcome her where she said, “the new world order in leadership got a new meaning when Barrack Obama was elected President of America (first term), a move that reverberated hope and trust between races all over the world.”

During the event, her parents Richard Kangethe and Emily Waiyaiya said their daughter started showing leadership qualities at a very tender age.

“She was very inquisitive and ever curious to know why and how this and that happened”, says her dad with a tinge of pride. Despite being the fourth born, she would chip in and take the lead in solving problems holding down her elder siblings”, said her father adding that she also used to be the head of girl guides and class prefect during her school days

Before moving to London in 2000, Councillor Wanjiru was the head teacher for Githunguri Township Primary School located at the heart of Githunguri town that used to lead in the district during her reign.

She flew to the UK, where she worked as a part time supply teacher in 40 schools in East London before acquiring the qualified teachers status (QTS) which enabled her get employed as a teacher at Mawney Primary School as the only black teacher.

Her engagements with the scout boosted her integration with the community and this saw her get introduced to the Labour Party action team where she began doing voluntary work.

The party caucus later nominated her as the area deputy chair of labour in her ward and she was later nominated to replace the incumbent civic leader who was dropped for alleged inactivity.

Although she faced much opposition on grounds of being a single mother and black, Councillor Wanjiru proved her skeptics wrong when she beat three others to scoop the seat in the recently-concluded UK elections, just to break the record not only at her home district but in her foreign country ward.

She has attended Advanced Leadership and strategic management courses at the University of Warwick and her expertise is increasingly sought after and she has been called upon to address various distinguished groups on the topics of leadership and public service.

Other Kenyans who have successfully vied for political seats abroad include Daniel Munyambu from Kairi Location in Gatundu North (Vange Ward seat in Basildon, Essex) Mayor Mary Kiruhi who was elected as councillor representing Townstal Ward in Dartmouth, UK on January 7, after a by-election and Mrs Marianne Alapini another Kenyan female who represented the Labour Party in Chelsea and Kensington as early as 2007.