Youthful lawyer to take on seasoned politicians in Senate race

At only 32 years, Faith Norah Lukosi believes she is the best candidate to represent the interest of Nairobi residents at the Senate.

Following in the footsteps of current Senator Johnson Sakaja and  the county's first senator, Mike Sonko, Lukosi believes that being youthful, she is qualified to be Nairobi’s first female senator.

Taking pride in he aspirations, she firmly thinks with her legal background and her previous experience working in the Youth Senate Kenya,she has what it takes to be the next senator.

Since devolution in 2013, the Nairobi senatorial race has attracted youthful politicians brimming with self belief.

Sonko was  barely 37 years old when he first went to the Senate and his successor, Sakaja, was 32 years of age in 2017.

This year is no different.

More vibrant and young leaders have thrown their hats in the ring in the bid to succeed Sakaja.

The desire to have an accountable county leadership and oversight budgetary allocations is what Lukosi looks forward to most as she puts together her bid.

At an early age,she developed skills and interest in advocating for the rights of her peers, which she believes, prepared her for a bigger role in future.

Born in Langata in 1990, Lukosi is the last born in a family of nine children.

Her leadership stood out at a young age.

“I was the outspoken one among my siblings and was always ready to defend even the older ones whenever we had angered our parents,"she said.

" They always referred to be as 'mteteaji' (defender). I later discovered that my calling was to defend people,” she told the Star on Wednesday.

In 1996, Lukosi joined Uhuru Gardens Primary School in Langata.

She later proceeded to Lugugu Girls High School and after passing her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education she joined University of Nairobi, School of Law.

While in university, her desire to have students interest heard intensified directing her to school politics.

This ushered her into the political path.

Her involvement in campus politics led Lukosi, with the help of fellow students, to start a newspaper at the school of law called Parklander.

The paper was used as a platform for student leaders to address grievances by their colleagues.

“Since then I developed consciousness about the political environment in Nairobi and across the country,"she said.

"I later joined the civil society spaces through Youth Senate Kenya, Siasa Place, National Youth Council and Goal Youth Network to articulate matters affecting the youth,” Lukosi said.

Why Senate position?

Likosi said that she wanted to ensure the legislative processes and laws that are made at the county level, are sensitive to the interests of youth, women, PWDs and small enterprises.

“I want to play an oversight role on all county budgetary allocations and project implementation," she said.

"I want to ensure there is no misuse of public funds and Nairobi residents get the services they deserve."

Having spent the better part of her life in the informal settlements of Nairobi, Lukosi relates very well with the daily challenges affecting low and middle income earners in the city.

She has  come face to face with challenges ranging from inaccessible basic needs, unemployment, and unresponsive leadership.

This gives her the desire to represent the people’s interest by playing a role in addressing these challenges and strengthening devolution.

“ I think the senate position is the sweetest and most luscious fruit that Kenyans reaped from the Constitution of 2010,"she said.

"I want to be part of the devolution story by making sure it's strengthened to serve the best interests of the people of Nairobi and Kenya at large."

The aspirant believes she is best suited to serve in the position because of her legal back ground and her past experiences working with the youth in different organisations.

Lukosi believes both  Sonko and Sakaja did their best in their capacities to represent Nairobi residents in parliament.

However, she believes a lot still needs to be done on oversight to ensure that every shilling allocated to the county is well spent and accounted for in the best interests of its residents.

“ Sakaja came out strongly on pushing for higher revenue allocations for Nairobi. I will do better in pushing for accountable county leadership,"Lukosi said.

"I will ensure that the money, which is allocated to Nairobi, is used for the projects that will improve the living standards of residents in low and middle income category.” 

She further said that leadership is not about age, gender, class or political connections but one's indomitable will to serve the people.

Admitting that Nairobi politics is tough and rough, full of cartels and chest thumping on who has the biggest financial muscle, Lukosi believes a difficult time lies ahead.

“Being a woman and without having huge financial muscles and political networks like my opponents, I have to work extra hard to appeal to the hearts of the voters,"she said.

" I believe they must have the final say at the ballot.” 

Since 2016, Lukosi has been a member of ODM where she had been serving as the deputy secretary general of the Youth League.

However, she resigned last week and joined Jubilee party where she submitted her nomination papers on Thursday, last week.

“ I didn't resign because I don't support Raila but rather because I saw Jubilee lacks a youthful aspirant who has their interest at heart,"

"I decided to act fast and as of now I'm qualified and ready for nominations.” 

As a lawyer, Lukosi has a track record of working in public service and in the civil society space.

She has previously worked at Athi Water Works Development Agency as a legal officer.

She also championed for youth and women inclusion in policy formulation and implementation as a consultant and in her capacity as the Nairobi Youth Senator.

On matters policy, Lukosi has been part of the Nairobi Technical Working Group on the development of Nairobi City County Youth Policy to mainstream youth issues in county functions.  

Nationally, she has been part of the task force for formulation and review of the National Youth Council Elections Guidelines 2020.

She joined the efforts to ensure all youths were involved in decision making at the counties and national levels.  

On matters environment, Lukosi has been partnering with Nairobi Metropolitan Services to sensitise youth and women and engaging them in mitigation and adaptation efforts.

She led environmental conservation activities such as tree planting and river clean ups.

She also formed a consortium of youth and women-led groups championing for a pollution free environment.

The consortium has been advocating for formulation of an inclusive climate change policy for Nairobi county.

Lukosi also runs a teen mentorship programme through which she offers guidance to young men and women on issues of sexual reproductive health, character development, and academic excellence.

The senate aspirant  will now face nominated MP Maina Kamanda in the Jubilee Party nominations.

Other aspirants include ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, United Democratic Alliance party’s Karen Nyamu and gospel singer Roy Smith Mwatia alias Rufftone.