CHARITY NGILU
| AGE | 73 YEARS |
| GENDER | FEMALE |
| OCCUPATION | POLITICIAN |
Biography
Charity Ngilu is a Kenyan politician who is one of Kenya’s most prominent female leaders.
Besides being a politician, Charity Ngilu is a businesswoman, working as a secretary at the Central Bank of Kenya and later becoming an entrepreneur. She founded a bakery and restaurant while also serving as the managing director of Ani-plastics Ltd.
Education Background of Charity Ngilu
Charity Ngilu attended Mbooni Intermediate School for her primary school education.
She proceeded to Alliance Girls for her Secondary education and sat for her exam in 1972.
Ngilu then went to Kianda College and Government Secretarial College, where she trained in Management and Secretarial.
In 1975, she joined the Kenya Institute of Administration and graduated as a certified secretary.
Her passion for education did not end there as she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in leadership and management from St Paul’s University.
Family
Charity Ngilu was ninth in a family of 13 children to a housewife mother and gospel preacher father.
She was married to Micheal Mwendwa Ngilu, an engineer, in the early 1980s. He died on July 1, 2006, in South Africa while undergoing treatment. Ngilu described him as “a pillar of my life, a caring and loving man.”
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Political Career
Charity Ngilu’s political career spans over three decades. It is well marked by resilience in a male-dominated field, that is, Kenyan politics.
She entered politics in 1992, when she was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Kitui Central on the Democratic Party (DP) ticket. She would hold this position for 20 years.
In 1997, she joined the Social Democratic Party and became the first woman in sub-Saharan Africa to vie for president.
Since she campaigned against incumbent Daniel Arap Moi, she faced significant intimidation. She was teargassed by police several times and faced a machete attack.
Her campaign elevated her political profile and earned the name “Mama Rainbow” after joining the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)
Ngilua in Cabinet
In 2002, President Mwai Kibaki appointed Ngilu as Minister for Health after NARC’s election victory.
She championed better healthcare access for the poor and introduced bills to support women’s health.
She highlighted her connection to public healthcare when she was admitted to Kenyatta Hospital during her tenure.
Charity was appointed Minister for Water and Irrigation in 2008 when she was aligned with Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
She focused on water access leading to water access, till the end of her term in 2013.
She became the Cabinet Secretary for Land, Housing and Urban Development when President Uhuru Kenyatta appointed her after losing the Kitui County Senator race in 2013.
This was a challenging role as she faced a politically complex environment despite her efforts to work on housing and urban development policies.
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In 2017, Charity Ngilu was elected the Governor of Kitui County. She became one of the first three female governors in Kenya.
She faced strained relations with the Kitui County Assembly after implementing controversial environmental policies, which included bans on sand harvesting and charcoal transportation to protect the environment.
This sparked allegations of ethnic incitement and legal challenges. She was also accused of accepting an overvalued bid for a public tender, with allegations involving her son-in-law.
In 2022, she withdrew her 2022 gubernatorial candidacy to support Julius Malombe of the Wiper Party, aligning with Raila Odinga’s presidential bid.
She has maintained a low profile since Raila Odinga’s loss to William Ruto.
Wealth and Net Worth
Her wealth primarily stems from her political career, spanning roles as a Member of Parliament, Minister, Cabinet Secretary, and Governor of Kitui County, as well as her earlier business ventures, including managing a bakery, restaurant, and Ani-Plastics Ltd.
Charity Ngilu also owns multimillion-shillings businesses, properties, and luxurious houses.
Her wealth is estimated to be more than Ksh 500 million.
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