Early Life And Education
Charity Ngilu (born 28 January 1952) is a Kenyan politician and the second governor elected for Kitui County. She unsuccessfully vied to be President of the Republic of Kenya in 1997. 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.
Born in 1952, in Mbooni Makueni District, the 69-year-old governor completed her Primary school education in Mbooni Intermediate school and later joined Alliance Girls High School for her secondary education.
She later joined Kianda College and Government Secretarial College for a Management and secretarial course. In 1975, she joined the Kenya Institute of Administration and graduated as a certified Secretary.
In 2012, Ngilu graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Leadership and Management from St. Paul’s University.
Career
Ms. Ngilu worked as a secretary for the Central Bank of Kenya before she went into business.
Politics
Charity Ngilu was first elected Kitui Central Member of Parliament in 1992 and five years later (1997) made a stab at the presidency making her the first Kenyan female to run for president. She was re-elected in 1997 on a Social Democratic party ticket.
In 2002, she was re-elected Kitui Central MP and was in 2003 appointed Minister of Health, by President Mwai Kibaki. She still retained her seat in 2007 and in April 2008 she was appointed Minister of Water and Irrigation under the grand coalition government.
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In 2013, Charity Ngilu unsuccessfully vied for Kitui Senator but was later appointed Cabinet Secretary for Land, Housing, and Urban Development by President Uhuru Kenyatta. She, later on, resigned following corruption allegations.
In 2017, Mama Ngilu vied for the Kitui County Governor’s seat and won, beating incumbent Julius Malombe.
Family
Ngilu was married to Michael Mwendwa Ngilu and is blessed with 3 children. Her husband died in 2006.
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