Woman who fought for political prisoners seeks Nyandarua seat

Beatrice Gathoni Kamau, a founder member of the Release Political Prisoners (RPP) movement. She has joined the race for the Nyandarua senate seat. PHOTO | WAIKWA MAINA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • A renowned human rights activist, Ms Kamau is the only female candidate for the Nyandarua seat.
  • Ms Kamau is vying as an independent candidate.

A human rights activists, Beatrice Gathoni Kamau, a founder member of the Release Political Prisoners (RPP) movement has joined the race for the Nyandarua senate seat.

RPP became known for pushing former President Daniel arap Moi’s government to release political prisoners.

A renowned human rights activist, Ms Kamau is the only female candidate for the Nyandarua seat, competing with two men, a youthful John Methu, 25, and seasoned politician Mwangi Githiomi, a one-time minister in former President Kibaki’s administration.

Ms Kamau is vying as an independent candidate.

Mr Methu is the Maendeleo Chap Chap candidate while Mr Githiomi has been nominated by the Jubilee Party.

HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVIST

Ms Kamau, has fought many human rights battles since the era of agitation for multiparty democracy to date.

She has seen and participated in painful experiences that gave birth to the current Constitution which brought in more checks such as dealing with police brutality against innocent Kenyans.

Beatrice is a strong believer in justice, rule of law and equality for all.

If elected to the Senate, she has a long list of human rights-related Bills she intends to introduce in Parliament.

Beatrice Gathoni Kamau during a campaign tour. She is the only woman vying for the Nyandarua senate seat. PHOTO | WAIKWA MAINA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

SCHOOLING

Born and brought up in Tumaini, Nyandarua County, Beatrice developed the desire to fight for justice at a tender age.

She went to Tumaini Primary School then proceeded Loreto Convent, before studying law at Nairobi University.

She later studied human rights law in Sweden, a management course in Denmark and business management at Kenya Institute of Management.

At 24, she was actively involved in human rights activism.

Since June 2014, Beatrice has been the Executive Director of Women Political Alliance, and her work involves coordinating the alliance’s programmes in an organisation that focuses on empowering women socially, politically and economically.

She was also at one time the editor of Mtetezi Newsletter, an RPP publication.

Ms Beatrice Gathoni Kamau with her supporters in Nyandarua. If elected to the Senate, she has a long list of human rights-related Bills she intends to introduce. PHOTO | WAIKWA MAINA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

FOUGHT FOR PRISONERS

“I joined the mothers of political prisoners [and] by the time we started there were 52 political prisoners. 51 of them were released after two years of advocacy. We had to fight hard. We were the first people to hold a meeting without a license,” she recalls.

The team also worked hard to have the powerful and oppressive Chiefs' Authority Act reviewed.

“The political level ground you see today, although it’s still bumpy, is a result of those people who sacrificed their work and lives,” adds Beatrice.

She believes that with good politics, this country can be one of the best nations but that can only be achieved by electing good leaders.

“I was very instrumental in coming up with Political Parties Act. By then I was a board member of Ford Asili and we discussed the Act at length. We then believed that political parties are supposed to be guided by ideologies and [that they] should not be ethnic,” says Beatrice.

Unfortunately, she says, that is something that has failed to take root in Kenya.

Beatrice contested for the Nyandarua woman rep seat in 2013 but lost to Ms Wanjiku Muhia.

Beatrice says this year’s party nominations were a replica of what happened in 2013 and this compelled her to vie as an independent candidate.

If elected, she plans to introduce a Bill in Parliament aimed at making sure the elderly, especially those who fought for independence, are taken care of.