Karua rocks Eve Sisters

By Shirley Genga

Refreshing and energy-boosting. That’s the thought that comes to mind when I think of the Eve Sisters mentorship programme. Every time I attend these powerful monthly sessions I always leave with renewed strength and energy ready to face the many challenges ahead.

Welcome to Eve Sisters, the venue — as always — was the luxurious Hilton Hotel and the guest list was well-thought out. The Eve Sisters is not just a space where women bond but where new dreams are born.
  

This month’s theme was ‘Power of a Woman’ and the hundreds of women present were full of expectation.
To set the ball rolling was Eve Sisters’ moderator and Standard Group’s senior associate editor Njoki Karuoya, who welcomed the guests.

Heart-wrenching story
First on stage was George Ojwang’, a man whom Eve Sisters invited to speak after learning of his heart-rending story.
George’s wife slipped into a coma almost five months ago  after delivering their second son.

“Thank you for this opportunity. I am privileged to share my wife’s story   with Eve Sisters,” he began.

“My wife was due with our second son and everything was going well. She was due on February 25, but a few days before, she collapsed at home and as a result my son was born pre- mature. After delivery, she slipped into a coma and she has been in that state since,” he said.

The doctors told him that his wife had been suffering from eclampsia, an acute and life-threatening complication of pregnancy.

This sad turn of events has forced George to roll out his sleeves and be a mother and father to his newborn and first-born son.

His wife has had 13 operations and her medical bill stands at Sh16 million. George moved the audience with his sheer determination to take care of his wife and two sons.

Next on stage was Jennifer Karina, a motivational speaker and marriage expert.

Her message was simple but powerful: “Do not look for a man to complete you. Do not look for someone else to make you happy; be happy within yourself. Be complete within yourself.”

Jennifer shared her own personal experience. “When I married my husband I knew that my life was complete, I gave him all the love I had to the point where I smothered him, but he did not respond the way I wanted. My father-in-law  told me if I wanted to be loved and respected by my husband, I had to arise and shine. If you are crying for a man, wipe your tears, he is not worth a single tear,” she said.

Next on the line was CEO and founder of Info-track Consulting Angela Ambitho who started on a high note:
“I am good at my job; I am a good mother, a good wife, a good daughter and a good citizen,” she started on a high gear. She encouraged women to be their own cheerleaders, to constantly reaffirm themselves and acknowledge their strengths.

Angela began working at a leading information services and  research firm at the age of 17 where she rose from an intern to the general manager.

“I worked hard as I was the first to get in and last to leave. I learnt endurance but after ten years I felt like I had reached my glass ceiling and quit. Some people thought I was crazy while others thought it was the pregnancy hormones. They believed I would be back, but I had reached a point where I felt stuck. I did not know what I was going to do.  I stayed home, had my son and three months after giving birth I went back to work,” Angela told the enthusiastic sisters.With only Sh200,000 she began her company from home.

“I now have 50 employees with more than 500 plus research assistants all over Kenya. We even have an office in Lagos,” said Angela.

Her advice to women on how to overcome stereotypes was to: “Know your strengths. Build your network, have your own cheering squad, invest in your personal brand and you will conquer the world.”

Like the previous speakers nominated MP Rachel Shebesh  did not disappoint.

“When you are a woman in politics it is never easy. There are challenges but with focus you will overcome. Being a strong woman does not mean you never breakdown, it means you go break down and come back stronger. I have come to learn that leadership as a woman means remembering that your agenda is bigger than what you are going through,” said Shebesh. She challenged women who desire to be in leadership to keep pressing on.

The climax of the event was when presidential aspirant Martha Karua took to the stage.

Her message was spot on:  “Nothing is given on a silver platter. You have to claim your own space. Do not sit and wait.”

“If you have an issue or a problem, deal with it head on. Whenever I have a problem I usually withdraw into myself and there I find the answers,” said the straight-shooting legislator.

Her parting shot: “Never ever let anyone else define you. I always define myself. If you let others define you then they will show you where your ceiling is. Define your own course.” The event ended on a high note with the participants raising an impromptu Sh47,000 for George’s wife medical bill.

To contribute towards her medical bill, M-Pesa George on 0721261617 or  deposit at Bank of Africa Galleria branch, Claris and George, account no. 03802100000