Caroline Chege: An OBV alumnus runs for Kenya Senate

What wonderful news to start the New Year of 2017.

We got the news that Caroline Wambui Chege, who took part in OBV’s Parliamentary mentoring scheme in 2008/9 will run for Senator in Kajiado, Kenya where she was raised as child.

As a young woman she came to the UK and studied at the University of Liverpool, where she did a degree in Business and Health. In 2008 she was selected from strong competition to win a place on the coveted OBV MP Shadowing scheme.

There she thrived and found a voice that would put her in good stead for the future.

Returning home in 2010 she had the confidence and conviction to believe she could change her world. She set up her own organisation -SOZO Kenya –which has enabled her to promote social, economic, and political capacity building. Much of her focus has been on educating youths and women, particularly around civic education, leadership, public participation, rights and responsibilities.

Now she has set her sights on a higher prize to present the people of Kajiado in the Kenya Senate. Through her years of campaigning and supporting ordinary people in her community Chege is seen as a real shining light for new African politics.

Her many supporters state that she has a vision founded on the ‘values of integrity, inclusivity, equity and humility.’

We at OBV are not surprised, just extremely proud that our sister is offering real hope and leadership on the big stage.

We wish her the very best come the election in March with the knowledge that her triumph will be the triumph for the people.

Simon Woolley