Smith Global Engagement Seminar- A Trip to Nakuru County
As part of the Global Engagement Seminar in Kenya, we travel to different counties during weekend trips. This past weekend, we traveled to Nakuru county—the fourth largest county in Kenya located about 160 km Northwest from Nairobi.Â
After arriving, we met with women who serve as Members of County Assemblies (MCAs) who represent their constituencies (sub-counties). Because our program is about gender politics and participatory democracy, we were able to ask these women MCAs about the issues they face in running for positions and how they interact with male politicians. We learned that issues of finances, prejudice against women leaders, and ethnic politics all contribute to the struggles that women face in pursuing political office. Several of these women were also members of Maendeleo ya Wanawake (MYWO), a women’s NGO that works to improve the lives of women and girls in Kenya and to provide a voice for them. The women MCAs talked about how their involvement with MYWO helped them gain popularity within their communities and helped them gather the support necessary for pursuing politics. (I will be interning with MYWO later in the program and can’t wait to share more about what I learn there!)
The next day, we met with the governor of Nakuru, Kinuthia Mbugua. It was a great honor that he asked to meet with us. During the session, he talked about the diversity of Nakuru County in terms of its different communities and languages. He also discussed the role that counties play within Kenya’s devolved governmental structure and emphasized that counties allow the opportunity for better representation and more direct communication with citizens.
After meeting with the governor, we met with more women MCAs and learned more about the issues involved for women in politics. We then had a special opportunity to talk with university student leaders in Kenya and learn about how students our age perceive issues of women in politics. This was a chance to compare different viewpoints, and we had a lively discussion.
Afterwards, we had lunch with the university students, and then we took a trip to the Equator! This was a fun chance to take pictures with each other, and we also learned some cool facts. For example, the direction that water drains (clockwise vs. counterclockwise) changes depending on which side of the Equator you’re on. One woman even gave us a demonstration of this.
The next day, we traveled to Nakuru National Park and went on an evening drive to see the many animals there. We even stopped by a waterfall and got a group photo! We stayed the night there and went on another drive at 6:30 am—it was worth waking up for because we were able to see so many animals up close! After the drive, we had breakfast and traveled back to Nairobi. On the way we got a group picture with a view of the Rift Valley.Â
Now we’re resting and getting ready for class tomorrow. This week is the last week of the academic portion of the seminar. Next week we start our internships! Time is moving so quickly throughout this program, and it’s hard to slow down with all of the wonderful activities we’re doing. Stay tuned to hear about our upcoming weekend trip to Machakos County!
*Photo credits to Kathryn Maurer*
