Exuding confidence

Published on December 5, 2007

 Three weeks ago, Grace Adhiambo Akumu walked with a measured gait as she entered the Electoral Commission of Kenya offices at Pap Onditi shopping centre in Nyakach Constituency. She was a wounded lioness who was out to give the area parliamentary seat another shot at the General Election.

Grace is one of the 73 politicians cleared by Narc to contest these seats countrywide. She is the wife of retired trade unionist and former area MP Dennis Akumu.

Grace is also among Nyanza politicians who dashed for smaller parties’ tickets after missing the ODM boat during the chaotic nominations.

Grace insists she was shortchanged in the ODM nominations and remains optimistic about winning the elections to become the first woman MP for the constituency.

"The ODM Election Board sent only 26,000 ballot papers, although there are 56, 000 registered voters in Nyakach," she said.

And because the board did not provide means of transporting ballot papers, her opponents took advantage and offered vehicles. In the process, she says, she was rigged out.

But she thinks so long as she is supporting Raila Odinga for the Presidency the voters will give her an opportunity.

The executive director of Climate Change Africa, an environmental NGO, exudes confidence because she has supported many women’s projects in the area.

She says her strong supporters are the youth and women.

With support from friends, relatives and well-wishers, she believes she has what it takes to win the seat.

Grace intends to conduct door-to-door campaigns to achieve her goal.

She predicts that the 10th Parliament is likely to have more women MPs than any other so far.