Ruth Oniang'o becomes Member of Parliament, nominated by the now opposition party KANU!

Wonders never cease!

For the past two years I have been on leave of absence from my University, and devoted time to Rural Outreach Program, an NGO I founded some 10 years ago. I have also been quite busy in international work, virtually advocating for Africa, and not even as a consultant. I have decided to devote my life helping to solve the so many of Africa's/Kenya's problems. Indeed I have felt running for office is not for me; I did not stand this last time despite so much persuasion!
I have always told my people that spiritually, it will be very difficult for me to stand for parliament, because I would not wish to appear that I am being paid for the work I am doing with them. I believe in politics of development rather than the empty promises and hot air that characterize parliamentary politics. Of course my speeches are often interpreted as quite political and it is rare that I am not asked: Are you sure you won't go into politics?

We had peaceful elections on December 27, 2002. The air is still fresh and the euphoria of success will come to pass, leaving us with the same original problems of poverty, especially in the city slums, inability of parents to pay for their children's secondary and college education, poor and unaffordable access to health care, and most of all the tragically untold and scary impacts of HIV/AIDS. There are still many Kenyans without a voice in the parliament. I am there, I hope as a Kenyan, to try and address some of these issues. I have no experience whatsoever in the August House but I am confident working together, we can make some mileage towards the improvement of things. I have been overwhelmed by all the congratulatory messages that I have received so far, and clearly expectations are very high. I have to make a booklet of these, to continue being reminded of the great words of excitement and wisdom at the time of nomination.

The Nation Newspaper reported that I applied for nomination; No, I did not. God clearly did it for me. I have sent them a note to correct this.
I was not even in the original list of KANU's 4 nominees, and at the time all this was going on, I in fact had traveled to Ethiopia with my daughter and NARC had already finished their nominations and had gone against their earlier promise to nominate only women.
When the call was received in my office, I initially said: NO WAY!
But the young people ( 6 of them) in my office said: " Prof, you will make a difference regardless of whatever party you are in". We then prayed, and started to return the call.
I was told they had started to look for me the previous day and even went to my university only to be told I had been away for years!

I THANK EACH ONE OF YOU FOR YOUR BEST WISHES. I value the voices, best wishes, prayers, and cheering of all of you my friends. I pray that I do my best. Stay blessed each one. Ruth ( see below the note to the Nation).

First of all, let me wish you a happy 2003 and also commend you for the very objective reporting in the just-ended elections. You provided excellent leadership and demonstrated fair play across the board. Keep up the good work especially in this post- election era.
I do hope that your TV station can now be facilitated to reach the rest of Kenya, which is so badly being denied this excellent service.

I have a small complaint however. In your Nation of Friday January 11, 2003, you insinuated that I had applied for the nomination in KANU. I wish to categorically deny this. As I do so, however, I wish to thank the Party for the nomination. I believe that is where the real challenge is. Any good democracy requires a strong opposition and the fear of course is that a very popular NARC Government and an extremely weakened KANU will slow down the train of democracy Kenya is riding on right now. But, I am not worried as I believe we are in a continuously evolving political environment. Clearly, a free media will have a huge responsibility here.

I agreed to take up the offer after much persuasion by my young people in the office, mostly university students who said: "Prof. it does not matter what party you are in, you will make a difference".

I have never been in Parliament before. I hope to learn how to interact with colleagues as Kenyans, not wearing party tags, to address the very serious problems, which have caused so many Kenyans to become abjectly poor. So this is not a joking matter and I will take my responsibilities very seriously. Kenyans are expecting a lot from us and I hope the media will continue to display the first class professionalism we have witnessed in the recent past.

Surely reporting should be fair, accurate and respectful of the persons you may be making reference to.

Thank you once again.

God Bless you.

Prof. Ruth K. Oniang'o
Nominated MP, KANU