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By Israeli – Wikimedia

Top 5 Most popular Kenyan Politicians

Since gaining independence in 1963, Kenya has upheld remarkable stability.

Although there have been few changes in the political system and crises in neighbouring countries, the political air in this country has remained calm.

This can be attributed to the good leaders trusted by the people to take care of the situation.

The geographical location of Kenya in Africa gives it an advantage due to its powerful economy.

Kenyan political scene has influenced its neighbours and the continent. There are notable names that when mentioned are synonymous with excellent political leadership.

Today, we’ll look at the top 5 Kenyan politicians that have shaped and influenced the masses in the country.

1. Raila Amollo Odinga

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We begin with the most famous politician in Kenya, Raila Amollo Odinga. He has been in the scene since the 1970s.

His father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, was the first vice president after Kenya gained independence in 1963.

Raila remains to be one of the most powerful and influential politicians in Kenya.

He was a member of parliament for Langata Constituency in Nairobi, for 21 years.

His attempt in becoming the president of the republic failed twice and was marred with political violence and electoral fraud.

Raila served as a prime minister of Kenya between 2008 and 2013.   He has also been the Leader of the Opposition in Kenya from 2013 to 2017.

Kenyans and his loyal supporters fondly refer to him as baba, Swahili term for father.

2. Wangari Maathai

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Another popular political figure in Kenya is Wangarĩ Muta Maathai.

She was a well-known Kenyan social, environmental and political activist and the first African woman to win the Nobel Prize in 2004.

Maathai was also the first woman in East and Central Africa to receive the Doctor of Philosophy degree after graduating from the University of Nairobi in Kenya.

She started her activism by campaigning for equal benefits for women working in the civil service.

Maathai represented the Tetu constituency in Nyeri County as the Member of Parliament (Central Kenya) between 2002 and 2007.

She also served as Assistant Minister for Environment and Natural Resources in Kenya’s ninth parliament, a position that befits her activism as an environmentalist.

During her time, she fought for green spaces in the city. Uhuru Park and Karura forest in Nairobi is green spaces she fought for.

Professor Maathai died on 25 September 2011 at the age of 71 after a battle with ovarian cancer.

Memorial ceremonies were held in Kenya, New York, San Francisco, and London.

3. Tom Mboya

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Thomas Joseph Odhiambo Mboya was a Kenyan trade unionist, educator, Pan-Africanist, author, independence activist, and statesman.

He was one of the founding fathers of the Republic of Kenya. His leadership skills garnered him admirations from all over the world.

Mboya took part in several civil rights movements in the United States and was at the forefront fighting for Kenya’s independence from the British rule.

During his short time in politics, he actively played a role in both local and regional leadership.

Mboya was elected Conference Chairman at the All-African Peoples’ Conference convened by Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana.

He helped build the Trade Union Movement in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania and across Africa.

Tom Mboya also worked with John F. Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr. to create educational opportunities for African students in the United States.

Notable beneficiaries of this airlift included Wangari Maathai, who won the Nobel Peace Prize, and Barack Obama Sr.

In 1960, he was the first Kenyan to be featured on the front page cover of Time magazine, in a painting by Bernard Safran.

His life was cut short in 1969 after he was assassinated as he was leaving a chemist.

4. Martha Karua alias Iron Lady

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Martha Wangari Karua is another popular Kenyan politician and an advocate of social justice.

She served as a former long-standing member of parliament for the Gichugu Constituency in Kirinyaga county. She is also an Advocate of the High Court of Kenya.

Karua was Minister of Justice until resigning from that position in April 2009.

She has continuously fought for the protection of Women’s rights and improvements to the democratic process.

Her work as an advocate contributed to family law, especially regarding the matrimonial property.

Her first time as a Member of Parliament was after she won the 1992 general elections.

This made her the first woman lawyer to be popularly elected to parliament.

In 2013, she campaigned for the presidential position of the Republic of Kenya but lost to Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, the current Kenyan President.

5. Johnson Sakaja

Johnson Sakaja is the current Senator of Nairobi County.

He is a popular youth politician that came to the scene while still a student at the University of Nairobi.

As a student, he served as the vice-chair of the Actuarial Students Association and later on became the president of the Student Organization, SONU.

He has worked closely with top political leaders in the country like the retired president Mwai Kibaki and current President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Sakaja also serves as the Chairperson of the Kenya Young Parliamentarians Association.

This association is a parliamentary group responsible for advocacy of youth empowering policies, legislation as well as the mentorship of youth leaders.