Nyiva: I'll retire from politics in 2017

Kitui County Woman Representative Winfred Nyiva Mwendwa has announced her intention to retire from politics.

Mrs Nyiva said yesterday she will not defend her seat in the 2017 General Election in order to pave way for a young and energetic successor.

Speaking in Kitui town during the launch of David Musila Foundation, Nyiva said she had served long enough in politics. The foundation belongs to the family of Kitui Senator Musila.

In this photo taken in 1996, Culture and Social Services Minister Nyiva Mwendwa (right) speaks when Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation Chairperson Zipporah Kittony called on the minister in her office. Mrs Mwendwa now plans to retire from politics. (PHOTO: FILE/ STANDARD)

"I want to declare today that I have decided to retire from active politics to do other business. I will not seek for any elective position in the coming elections," Nyiva said.

Nyiva, 74, said she will now become an adviser and consultant in politics and on family values.

Present during the launch were Musila, his wife Beatrice who is the foundation's vice chairperson, MPs Makali Mulu (Kitui Central), Marcus Muluvi (Kitui East), Bernard Kitungi (Mwingi West), County Commissioner Boaz Cherutich and Deputy Governor Peninah Malonza.

Before Nyiva's pronouncement, she angered the audience when she said she was just a "poor widow" who cannot support education of needy students from disadvantaged families.

"I cannot put my money in a project where I am in doubt... To invest in Kitui for instance is a risk and expensive because of low incomes. I would rather do it in Nairobi," Nyiva said.

Musila dismissed some unnamed individuals who claimed that his foundation was a political outfit to campaign for him in the next polls.

"I am an experienced politician who has other avenues to use as my campaign tool," the senator said.

He said his foundation will give scholarships to 40 university students from poor backgrounds for four years.

The widow of the first Kenyan Chief Justice Kitili Mwendwa, Nyiva was the first Kenyan woman to serve as a Cabinet minister.

She served as the Kitui West Constituency MP three times – in 1974 and 1992 under Kanu and in 2002 representing Narc.

Nyiva caused a national uproar in 1995 when she travelled to the women's conference in Beijing in 1995 and took a hairdresser as a part of her delegation.

She defended the decision by stating that being a delegation leader, she had to take care of her appearance.