Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja has showered praises on former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu for setting the pace in women leadership in Kenya.
Speaking on Thursday, Governor Sakaja said that Ngilu stood out as a beacon of hope for many women leaders.
"Thank you for paving the way for women's leadership in Kenya. If it were not for you, many women Governors wouldn't have the courage to join politics," he said.
Sakaja was speaking during the Nairobi launch of G7Strategy by the Council of Governors.
Ngilu was born on January 28, 1952, in Mbooni, Makueni District, of Kamba lineage.
She obtained management and secretarial training at the Government Secretarial College, Kianda College, and the Kenya Institute of Administration for Business.
Ngilu first worked as a secretary and eventually became a successful plastics and bakery businesswoman.
Before going into politics, Ngilu had held the position of managing director of a food manufacturing company.
She served as the Member of Parliament for Kitui Central from 1993 to 2013.
Ngilu was elected to represent the Kitui central constituency seat in 1992 on a Democratic Party ticket.
Ngilu in 1997, ventured above the political parapet to scratch at the highest and hardest of glass ceilings by becoming Kenya's first female presidential candidate alongside the late Wangari Maathai.
While campaigning, she pledged to smother corruption.
She was re-elected to the same MP seat and ran for president in the 1997 general election on a Social Democratic Party of Kenya ticket, finishing fifth behind the eventual winner, the late President Daniel Moi
Later, she joined the National Party of Kenya.
In the December 2002 general election, her party was part of the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC).
The coalition went on to win the elections, and President Mwai Kibaki appointed her as Minister of Health when he named his Cabinet on 3 January 2003.
She was also appointed NARC chairperson.
Ngilu was re-elected to her seat from Kitui Central in the December 2007 parliamentary election.
She served as Minister for Health from 2003 until 2007 and Minister of Water and Irrigation from April 2008 to 2013.
She also served as Cabinet Secretary for Land, Housing and Urban Development from 2013 until 2015.
Ngilu supported Raila Odinga presidential bid in 2013.
She later launched a presidential bid through her Narc Political Party, ultimately choosing to run for Kitui county senator and losing to David Musila.
Following her failed bid, Ngilu was named Cabinet Secretary for Land, Housing and Urban Development by President Uhuru Kenyatta, but she resigned from the post following corruption allegations
Ngilu ran for governor of Kitui County in the 2017 general election, beating incumbent Julius Malombe and becoming one of three elected women governors alongside the late Joyce Laboso of Bomet and Anne Waiguru of Kirinyaga.
In the August 2022 elections, Ngilu did not vie for any position.
