Judge us by ideas, not gender: Woman rep’s election appeal

A mother, a wife, a sister, a daughter-in-law and a legislator. How does one balance all these roles and ensure everything is done smoothly?

Vihiga Woman Representative Beatrice Adagala says it's God’s grace that guides her through political battles.

Walking the Star through her journey in leadership, she said women should be judged based on how they package themselves.

"The next gender that will be given nomination slots should be men, this notion of slay queens should not be there," she said.

Adagala was elected through the ANC Party ticket after losing during her first attempt in 2013.

She recounts several occasions when her eldest son reminded her to maintain her cool during live interviews.

The most heated interview was when she was called to defend the then NASA coalition against Jubilee.

It was Adagala against Kirinyaga Woman Rep Purity Ngirici.

Her eldest son, who always wants her to do things the right way, steered her away from the edge.

“During the break, he sent a message, telling me, 'Mum, relax,' and then I just answered him with a laughing emoji,” Adagala said.

Another instance is when she was on a radio interview with Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru, her son asked her to calm down.

"At times even my husband has to step in whenever he sees I'm going the wrong way, and I thank him for that," she said.

I have to ensure my husband has eaten. The first meal I prepared for him was chicken, ugali, and mrenda. He said no more eating in hotels

DOMESTIC LIFE

Away from the podium, chanting in political rallies, Adagala performs her duties as a normal wife and mother.

However, it’s not easy getting time to move around with all these roles.

“It becomes difficult at times; I have to juggle the county, like on Friday to Monday I take off to the village, then I have to be in Parliament from Tuesday to Thursday,” Adagala said.

By the grace of God, strategic planning and a supportive system, the balance has been achievable, she says.

She describes her husband Wycliffe Adagala as loving, caring and supportive.

“I do everything, cleaning, and I thank God I have a very smart and understanding husband. You’ll find as I am touching on this one, he is doing the other,” she said.

Weekends are left for family, their house managers are relieved. All house duties are then delegated to the two, Beatrice and Wycliffe.

Adagala says her cooking skills are close to perfect. She recalls the first meal she prepared for her husband.

“I have to ensure my husband has eaten. The first meal I prepared for him was chicken, ugali, and mrenda. He said no more eating in hotels,” she said.

Whenever Beatrice is home, Wycliffe cannot eat a meal prepared by anyone else apart from his wife, Beatrice.

EXTERNAL PRESSURES

On how Adagala handles threats and negative comments on social media, she channels motivational phrase.s

One is, "Use stones thrown at you to build a house." Another is, "Stones are thrown at a tree that produces fruits."

She does not take insults lightly, but neither does she take them to heart.

One common one she says that has been used on her timeline is the comment hurled at her hairstyle.

Often, she plaits a ‘bush’ of thick heavy hair. This has given her a brand name, 45kg hair.

“Some people call me 45kg hair. I just laughed and started a hashtag saying, '45kg hair, Mama ni Adagala'. So some of these things, you build on them,” Adagala said.

She advised women to brush off insults hurled at them, both physically and on social media.

During her free time, she visits her farm to check on her dairy animals and work on vegetables.

"I am a farmer and I also sell farm produce, so I like checking on how my cows, goat and sheep are doing," she said. 

The first-time Vihiga legislator said there are good moments in leadership, but she has low moments, too.

She recalled helping one student who was being sexually abused by a certain perpetrator.

Adagala ensured the pupil was transferred to another school in a different location.

“I felt bad when I realised that the same perpetrator was following that girl to the new school. Surely, that was very inhumane, but I'm glad action was taken against him,” she said.

Her best moments narrow down to her service to the people of Vihiga.

"Anytime I am working and delivering what my people request for or voted me to do is my happiest moment," she said.

At times I am just sitting somewhere then I hear someone abusing Mudavadi. I usually pray and ask God to give me the wisdom

DEFENDING MUDAVADI

Adagala's political journey began with a loss that gave her an opportunity to go back to the people and keep helping them, using her own money.

A fierce supporter of ANC Party leader Musalia Mudavadi, she has often had to counter Mudavadi’s enemies on his behalf.

With the political heat rising daily, she has found herself taking the bullet on behalf of her party leader. Not only on social media but also in physical and random meet-ups with Kenyans.

"At times I am just sitting somewhere then I hear someone abusing Mudavadi. I usually pray and ask God to give me the wisdom," she said.

This patriotism to her party has rubbed some of her supporters the wrong way.

"Politics is not something to take to heart. We might differ on one thing but agree on another," she said.

In 2013, she lost to Dorcas Kedogo, who moved to contest under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

While working at her business store, a number of women came and pleaded with her to give another stab to the seat of Woman Representative.

She gladly took up the challenge and has never regretted.

“In 2017, people really voted for me in large numbers. I want to thank the people of Vihiga for trusting me with being your rep, we’ve gone through a lot,” she said.

She has promised to secure the seat come August, saying her track record speaks for itself.

Adagala boasts of overseeing the setting up of a gender-based violence rescue centre in Vihiga county.

Her love for humanitarian work has helped a lot of women, youths, boys and girls, she said.

“Recently, I supported some boda boda guys and they called me saying they have finally raised enough money to buy a matatu. That made me very happy,” she said.

She has also helped a number of single women build decent homes in the five years she has served as a woman representative.

“I helped some young boys get loans to either start or boost their businesses, and they are doing well,” she said.

Adagala urged more women to consider running for elective positions in the forthcoming elections.

She said the gender tag is irrelevant and should not be used as a basis for determining where to place one's vote.

She called on Kenyans to listen to ideologies and watch out for professionalism and not gender. This will help create a gender balance in the next government, she says.

The race to unseat her has tightened after seven women declared interest in the seat.

They are Jackline Mwenesi, Winnie Majani, Violet Bagada, Ruth Bukachi, Rhoda Mbandu, Afandi Lukalo and Mary Amalemba.