AT 34, Isaac Melly is the youngest elected senator.
He stood for the seat in 2013 while still a student at the Kisii University, reading for a degree in Business Administration, majoring in Strategic Management.
His determination to win the seat is explained by the fact that Melly teamed up with his friends to start campaigns even without single cent in his pocket.
“We would raise a few shillings like, say, Sh5,000, from friends and pay a taxi to take us to a function or a fundraising meeting where I was so aggressive in selling out my policies, especially to the youth,” he says.
Many times they would use boda boda riders to attend campaign meetings at that time, when he was doing his fourth year at the university. He did his final exams while at the same time campaigning for the seat.
“I contested the seat at a young age, yet many people thought the Senate was a preserve of old politicians who were heading for retirement. I knew it was an opportunity I would use to fight for the rights of the youth.”
Melly says age is no longer a factor in Kenya’s leadership and one can perform well at any age after adulthood.
However, three years on the job and Melly admits being a Senator is massive in terms of mandate and the area they cover.
“In terms of facilitation, we are really disadvantaged, especially because we earn almost the same as what MPs earn, yet, as senator, I have six constituencies to work for. This is a big imbalance that must be addressed in future.”
Public expectations are high, but, despite the challenges, he has tried his best to ensure the youth benefit from county resources in Uasin Gishu.
“We in the Senate have collectively fought for more resources to go to the counties. In Uasin Gishu, I follow up to ensure that at least a third of the resources benefit the youth, women and those living with disabilities,” says Melly.
He has also focused on development of sports to identify talent among the youth in his county.
Melly regrets the Senate faces challenges that will require constitutional amendments to strengthen its work.
Two years ago Melly caused a storm at the University of Eldoret, where he led the public and some students in demanding the removal of Vice Chancellor Teresia Akenga on allegations that she was tribal, especially when it came to hiring staff.
The legislator, who faces a court case in connection with destruction of property at the university, says he had nothing personal against the VC.
“I was demanding fairness in terms of hiring and promotions, among other issues I felt were being done based on tribalism,” says Melly, who once worked as a casual labourer at the same university.
He plans to run for governor in 2022.
1983: Born in Kapweis village, Uasin Gishu county.
1990: Kapweis Primary School, did his KCPE in 1998.
1999: Kaplelach Secondary School, KCSE class of 2002.
2006: Kenya Institute of Management, Diploma in Business Management.
2009: Mt Kenya University, Bachelor's degree in Business Management, graduated in 2011 and was absorbed by the same university as Marketing Coordinator.
2013:
Elected Senator for Uasin Gishu on the URP ticket.
2014: Kisii University, Masters in Business Administration (Strategic Management), graduated in 2015.
2014: “If it was not for the young people who decided that with or without money we had to win, then I would not be in the Senate today. I may not have achieved a lot, but I have done something to fight for the rights of the youth in terms of employment and empowerment.”
2015: “Devolution may be gradually succeeding and we have seen some fruits already, but not as per the expectations Kenyans had. We expected a total transformation of the lives of our people but challenges of graft are slowing down everything. Many of our governors took over without the capacity to handle their mandate. We now require stronger oversight measures to ensure wastage of resources is eliminated.”
2016: “I am a firm believer in nationalism and that is why I have no problem with Raila, Mudavadi, Uhuru or Ruto being president. This does not mean I should overlook obvious tribal tendencies that can hurt our young people."
2016: “If Kenya has to go forward, we should be serious and establish football and volleyball academies. If we do that, I am sure that this country would produce the best footballers and volleyballers. We have people such as Wanyama and Arnold Origi. However, we can produce more and more because such people were nurtured a little bit late, when they were either in primary or high school. For us to move forward, we should have academies to nurture young talent from primary schools at the level of Standard One or Two. If that is the case, then, we would have teams that could not only beat other teams from East Africa, but the entire Africa and the entire world will recognise Kenya.