Wahu Kaara and the politics of Social justice

She has traversed the world’s continents fighting for human rights and global social justice. A renowned educationist and global social justice activist, Wahu Kaara, who is a parliamentary candidate for the Starehe seat has made a comeback in politics after she lost to Mr. Maina Kamanda in the 2002 general elections.

She relates her career in activism to her childhood which allowed her to fight for her rights even as a child. “I never accepted to be bullied, dominated or controlled”, she says reliving her childhood memories.

“My mother treated me with understanding, confidence, accountability and responsibility, virtues that have made me who I am”, she adds.

Her grandmother on the other hand assured her that within the social setup all people are equal and have the capacity to contribute equally. This was her childhood orientation.

Today, however, Wahu is determined to take her fight for global social justice to the floors of the August house, a journey that began in the run up to the last general elections.

Born and brought up by reasonably well to do parents in Eldoret, she refused to attend highlands schools that were only attended by the settlers’ children and the elite in the society because of her disgust for the existing social inequalities then.

Instead, she opted to settle for Kapkenda primary school in Rift valley and Matuga high school at the Coast before moving on to Kenyatta University in 1977, to pursue a bachelor of arts degree in education owing to her passion to serve to humanity.

During her life as a student she quickly ‘connected’ with subjects that inferred inherently to societal dynamics which she found to be retrospective of her life. She attributes her eloquence to her active participation in the debating club.  

She also reveals that she is a born leader who ahs commanded power without authority on more than one occasion. “I have always commanded power without authority, being in authority does not mean having the power thereof”, she says.

Her career as a teacher did not however, last as she took an early retirement in the early 1990s to concentrate on her fight for political civil rights, at a time when the country was undergoing democratization.

Together with her husband, they took part in the second liberation of the country popularly known as the mwakenya era, leading to her husband’s self-exile in Tanzania for six years.

A 2005 Nobel peace prize nominee, she has since continued to fight for human rights a fight that has seen her attend and address various forums abroad including the G8 summit in Scotland where she pushed for the fulfillment of a 200 endorsement of a campaign to eliminate extreme poverty.

Wahu is also one of the main leaders of Katiba watch a lobby group spearheading mass mobilization to demand for a new constitution that would ensure inclusivity in decision making.

The former history teacher stands tall with her head held high as she reminisces her achievements in the quest for equity.

One of her driving forces she says is the urge to act on history and not just letting history pass through us.

A key participant in the International committee of social council and a member of the steering world social forum in Kenya, she rallied to have the world social forum in Kenya a move she considers a great achievement.

But just why a shift of focus into the race to parliament?
Hers quest for a higher office is a mission to awaken government leaders to the injustice of abject poverty.

Wahu believes in the sovereignty of the people which she says can only be achieved if all people are treated with equal regard and also included in key decision making processes.

Her dream for Starehe constituency is to see a life economy in action as opposed to a free market economy that concentrates on creating power at the expense of development. “I have a determination to work others for a life economy”, she says.

Her leadership will be governed by the goal to overcome poverty and inability to utilize the available resources within an equitable network.

Wahu strongly believes that the urban poor are agents of social and economic transformation. She ascribes the principle of subsidiarity and equity based on devolution as in the Bomas draft constitution.

Her Vision

Wahu’s vision for Starehe is to see the manifestations of people’s struggles becoming the alternatives for economic activities built to guarantee a livelihood.

She is also optimistic about seeking a redress for the sewage system that goes through the residents settlement pausing a health hazard while at the same time seeking to uphold human dignity of the people of Starehe.

She also looks forward to identifying employment opportunities for youths so that they can have the capacity to transform their lives.

Campaign Strategy

Having worked extensively with people since 2002, and knowing their concerns, she is assured of being able to organize and mobilize their support in search of their votes.

She holds the principle of going to the people and knowing what they want then work towards achieving it.