Aisha Jumwa

Attempts by ODM party to officially eject her from party, and trigger a by-election were thwarted by the Political Party Dispute Tribunal. ODM had accused the MP of advancing the interests of another party, despite the fact that she was still a member of ODM. The Political Parties Dispute Tribunal declared invalid the proceedings and decision by ODM to expel the then Malindi Constituency legislator. In 2022, she officially ditched ODM and joined United Democratic Party (UDA). She has since been a key player of UDA in the Coast region. The party has gained popularity in the previously ODM dominated region courtesy of Aisha’s political brilliance. Aisha Jumwa is recognized for her great contribution to social and economic development in Coast region.

On 9 March 2018, Uhuru Kenyatta surprised the nation by entering into a peace deal with his erstwhile political nemesis, Raila Odinga, an event famously known as the Handshake. This not only changed the trajectory of political history in Kenya, but also marked the beginning of unprecedented alignments and realignments. Among the political leaders who shifted their political allegiances was Aisha Jumwa. Immediately, she courted Deputy President William Ruto after bolting away from Raila’s camp. Jumwa had opposed the handshake citing discrimination and lack of internal consultation by the party leader, Raila Odinga. Aisha still holds the opinion that the handshake truce only served to benefit Raila's personal interests while sidelining the plight of the masses who stood with him in his foiled election bids.

After dropping out of school, she was married off as a young girl. Her marriage however did not last long. When she developed an ambition to pursue a career in politics, her husband opposed her. It was out of these disagreements that the two separated. Following her refusal to be a house wife, differences with her estranged husband became irreconcilable. It is said that Jumwa personally herded the cows and goats paid to her parents as dowry, back to her in-laws, as it is dictated by the Mijikenda customary laws, ending their marriage. Defying the odds, and with her quest to get educated, she enrolled as a private student at Chandaria hall in Mombasa where she did her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination in 2011. She then did a Certificate in Governance at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in 2012, and later an Executive Diploma from the same Institution. After her diploma, she enrolled for a degree course at International Leadership University and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Management in 2020.

In August 2010, Kenya promulgated a new constitution which created the position of County Women Representative. She saw this as an opportunity to make the voice of the woman and other disadvantaged groups heard in the National Assembly. She vied under the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) in the subsequent election of 2013, and became the first Women Representative for Kilifi County. She was later elected as MP for Malindi Constituency in 2017 under the same political party. In the 2019-2020 financial year, Jumwa was ranked position 116th by Infotrak research firm, out of 290, with an approval rating of 53.3 percent countrywide. In 2021, Mizani African placed the Malindi legislator at position one in Kilifi County; position two in Coast region after her Mvita counterpart Abdulswamad Nassir, and position 28 out of 290 MPs nationally. She has been arguably one of the most performing Members of Parliament in Kenya.

Aisha Jumwa’s political journey started when she was still a youth. She established the Aisha Jumwa Foundation before joining active politics. In the year 1997, at the age of 22 years, and at the behest of her father, she vied as a Councilor for Takaungu Ward, in the defunct Kilifi County Council. She won with a landslide. As an elected Councilor, she became a voice of the youth, women, and persons living with disabilities. She recaptured her seat in the subsequent election of 2002. Jumwa also became Chairperson of Kilifi County COuncil. In 2007, she vied for Bahari Parliamentary Seat – currently Kilifi South Constituency- under the then ruling KANU party. She lost to her main rival, the late Benedict Gunda of NARC. This was her redefining moment in politics, following gruesome campaigns against male competitors, at a time politics was basically a male dominated affair.

Aisha Jumwa Karisa Katana (Born 28 March 1975) is a Kenyan politician currently serving as the Cabinet Secretary, Public Service, Affirmative Action and Gender in Kenya. She previously served as a Member of Parliament representing Malindi Constituency in Kilifi County, Commissioner of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), Women Representative for Kilifi County from 2013 to 2017, and as Councillor for Takaungu Ward from 1997 to 2007. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Management from International Leadership University and Executive Diploma in Governance from the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology.

Aisha Jumwa was born in Takaungu village, Kilifi County in a polygamous family on 28 March 1975 to Karisa Katana and Sidi Kazungu. Her father had six wives and 28 children. She attended Takaungu Primary School. She then proceeded to Ganze Secondary School where she dropped out in Form Two due to lack of school fees.