My plan is to be a two term MP

Kibwezi East MP, Jessica Nduku Mbalu. PHOTO| FILE| NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • I do not like plastic life, that life of being a mheshimiwa, power getting into my mind. I love being myself, I love being Jessica.

  • When I get visitors in my home in Kibwezi, I don’t behave like an MP, I behave like a Kamba woman, I make tea, and serve them before I embark  on office matters.

Q: Tell us about yourself.

A: My name is Jessica Nduku Mbalu. I am a wife, a mother of two and I am proud to be a Kenyan woman.

I hold a Bachelors degree in Finance from the University of Nairobi, a Master’s degree in Strategic Management from the same university and I am pursuing my PhD in strategic management, but slowly due to political commitments.

I am a first-time Kibwezi East MP, and I thank God that I was able to get the seat after competing with 11 very able men.

 

How did you reach here?

I am a local girl, born and bred in Kibwezi in Makueni County, the dry places of Ukambani. With that background, I did not expect to be a politician, but I have always been outspoken.

My head of department at Catholic University where I was lecturing part-time before I became an MP told  me to try my hand in politics. He told me “Jessica, don’t lock out your capability”.

 

What is one thing that we do not know about you?

 That I am sharpest at night. Most of my thinking, planning is done at the eerie hours of the night. Every day I wake up at around 2.30 am, I pray, then take a notebook and pen, down all pending things that I need to accomplish — I am so clever at that time.

 

Has politics changed you?

Not at all. I do not like plastic life, that life of being a mheshimiwa, power getting into my mind. I love being myself, I love being Jessica. When I get visitors in my home in Kibwezi, I don’t behave like an MP, I behave like a Kamba woman, I make tea, and serve them before I embark  on office matters.

 

Consider yourself a good mother?

(Laughs) I do, my two sons and my husband do not complain. I have been married for close to 14 years, and my husband is very supportive. He works in the legal sector.

Where I come from, you need a lot of support to go into politics, he should trust you and support you and still believe you are his wife and the mother of his children.

 

What is your favourite food?

African dishes – muthokoi, ugali and fish.

 

So what motivates you to wake up every morning?

The need for my people to be helped. I am motivated that a certain woman somewhere needs my help, which is within my capability.

It really melts my heart, seeing girls looking up to me. As a politician when you mention girls, men feel like  you are ignoring them, but I have a passion for ladies.

Sometimes the girls I visit in the schools do not call me mheshimiwa, they call me Jessica, they see like I am their auntie, they want to touch me, be near me, jump on me and it makes me feel good. They now all want to be a Member of Parliament.

 

How do you spend your free time?

Do I have any? The free time I get, I have to visit women’s groups in my constituency, I go to the churches, inspect projects and commission them.

I don’t get time to go for discos, but as a woman, I have to get time to do my hair and my nails.

I also take my sons to the coast, it is their favourite destination.

 Occasionally, I meet up my girlfriends for coffee where we can chat and feel like girls. I miss the time before being an MP when I used to have a lot of free time.

 

What are you currently reading?

I am reading 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene; it is a very moving book.

I also read my Standing Orders regularly and the Constitution, because as an MP and being on the Speaker’s Panel, all these have to be on my finger tips.

I also love reading the Bible.

 

Who are your role models?

I have many role models. I keep on changing depending on at what point I meet them.

In politics, they are Charity Ngilu and Martha Karua.

My mother is also my role model, because she took care of all the nine of us, despite our poor background.

In terms of discipline, we turned out okay; she created time for all of us.

 

What is the future like for you?

I want to grow with politics. My intention is to serve for two terms, as an MP, then I want to go for something else to also pave way for others who are coming up. There are so many leadership positions, especially for women.