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By Claudette Odour
Following the announcement of her presidential aspirations,Kingwa Kamencu’s name has been on everyone’s lips. Even as many admire her pluck, many more question her motives. What does this twenty seven year old Oxford student have up her sleeves? The social media is abuzz with Kingwa. Sample this quote from Facebook, “I’m so sure it was a publicity stunt. I’m jealous that I didn’t think of it first.” A quote from another social site reads,
“For starters, this mama is definitely not gonna become Kenya's next president. But we should all watch her closely. I think she wants to create a name for herself for future use. Think of it as building a brand. And while we are at it, who are you gonna vote for in the coming election??” It has been a terrible week for Kenya and Kingwa has been generous with her tears, crying for the cameras at press conferences, bemoaning fire and a general state of apathy. But then again, who are we to question the integrity of her tears?
All controversy aside, this young woman’s accomplishments are impressive. Her first novel, To Grasp at a Star, won 2nd prize in the
2006 Wahome Mutahi Literary Award and the National Book Development Council award 2003. She describes herself as a poet, novelist, philosopher, on and off journalist and perpetual student. She is not only a budding scholar but a social and political critic. She has previously published poems and short stories in local papers and magazines and is working on her second book. She is passionate about the emergence of Africa as a world power and the complete emancipation of women from political, social and economic setbacks. To read Kamencu's short stories HERE and HERE
Visit Kamencu's Facebook Page HERE
Photo Courtesy:www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk ;chrisokinda.blogspot.com
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