Call me a greenhorn, but I have the drive to take ODM to the next level

Nominated Senator Dr Agnes Zani (right) announces her candidature for the position of the secretary general in the upcoming ODM elections, at KICC on January 10, 2014. Dr Zani is causing ripples in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), after her announcement that she’s going for the powerful secretary-general’s position in February 28, 2014 elections. PHOTO | FILE   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• Barely a year ago as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s Sociology Department, she was largely unknown to the public. She ventured into academia after graduating with a master’s degree in sociology in 1994
• Her critics have called her a greenhorn, a politically inexperienced newbie who cannot be trusted with such a crucial role
• She attributes her assertive and aggressive nature to her mother, Mrs Teresia Zani, an author and retired teacher who during her heyday in the top echelons of Maendeleo ya Wanawake, fought for women’s rights in the Coast region
• From an early age, she became involved in community projects and gender issues to improve her people’s lives. It is this passion and her resolve to convince the community to vote against the wishes of the MRC that motivated the ODM nomination

By MWAKERA MWAJEFA
More by this Author

The voice of Nominated Senator Agnes Zani is so warm and friendly that she may as well be your favourite auntie rather than a gritty politician.

But it is in her penetrating gaze — half-imploring, half-commanding — that one senses the steely determination to stay the course in a male-dominated field that some consider the ultimate “dirty game”.

Whatever language the eyes speak, Dr Zani appears studious and contemplative. For the interview with the Sunday Nation at the White Sands Hotel, Dr Zani quickly rushes into a room and grabs two chairs for her chosen spot under a bamboo shade.

“You have to be aggressive to get the chairs,” she said in obvious reference to my failed attempts to pick up a pair from the five-star hotel.

Barely a year ago as a lecturer at the University of Nairobi’s Sociology Department, she was largely unknown to the public. She ventured into academia after graduating with a master’s degree in sociology in 1994.

Today she is causing ripples in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), Kenya’s single largest political party, after her announcement that she’s going for the powerful secretary-general’s position in elections later this month.

Her critics have called her a greenhorn, a politically inexperienced newbie who cannot be trusted with such a crucial role.

FALSE ASSUMPTIONS

But to Dr Zani, that’s a wrong assumption as she has for years been flying the flag for Kwale women and showing behind the scenes what she is made of.

“My nomination to the ODM senators’ list did not come on a silver platter; I earned it through popularising the party at the grassroots against the tide of Mombasa Republican Council in the Coast region,” she said.

She attributes her assertive and aggressive nature to her mother, Mrs Teresia Zani, an author and retired teacher who during her heyday in the top echelons of Maendeleo ya Wanawake, fought for women’s rights in the Coast region.

“Her progressive nature appealed to me while I was growing up and to date she is my guardian angel when it comes to public affairs,” Dr Zani said.

And that’s not all. Her father Zachariah Zani, who died in 2002, was a teacher and author who made his name as a politician and a land activist for his Digo people. He worked as a herdsboy to pay his school fees and would end up at the prestigious Alliance High School before proceeding to Makerere and ultimately to the University of Hull in Britain.

Dr Zani’s parents shaped thousands of minds by co-authoring Masomo ya Msingi, a series of books for primary and secondary schools.

Theirs, it seems, is a family of books and politics. According to Dr Zani’s only brother, Mr Nicholas Zani, the political streak displayed by his sister is in the genes. He vied for but lost in the ODM primaries for the Kwale senatorial ticket before switching to Kadu Asili, a Cord affiliate. But he lost the election.

“I am not surprised by my sister’s targeting the powerful secretary-general’s seat. It runs in the family from both parents in our Digo and Giriama lineages,” he said.

POLITICAL HISTORY
Their paternal grandfather, the late Chingoro Stephen Zani, was a trailblazing evangelist who donated land where the first church in the area was built at Vyongwani village.

This early church was later rebuilt by Dr Zani’s father, and today it stands as a symbol of Christianity in a community where Islam dominates.

The Zanis’ two-pronged Christian and Muslim families that spread as far as Likoni, Msambweni and Kinango constituencies form a voting bloc that any politician seeking elective office cannot ignore.

“Our extra-large roots have helped in campaign management since 1963,” said the senator’s brother.

Coming from an area that has been marginalised since independence, Dr Zani’ set her main agenda as a senator to boost development in education in the coastal counties and tackle backward cultural practices like early marriage and violence against women. She considers herself lucky to have been raised by a father who respected women.

“While growing up, I did not see my father discriminate against women. That taught me a lot,” she said.

Her political engagement did not begin with the nomination but with years of interaction with the reality of her people’s day-to-day lives, she added.

From an early age, she became involved in community projects and gender issues to improve her people’s lives. It is this passion and her resolve to convince the community to vote against the wishes of the MRC that motivated the ODM nomination.

MY HOBBIES
When she is not teaching or engaging in hardball politics, the senator likes to read biographies, engage in debates on topical issues, travel and go swimming.

Is she worried that her candidature is causing ripples and may tear ODM apart? No, she said.

“I am aware there are some leaders in Nyanza region not comfortable with my candidature, and it is understandable. But my recent visit there changed their perception about me, and I can assure you I have the backing come the elections.”

And is she party leader Raila Odinga’s project? Another firm ‘no’. Dr Zani insists she is her own person and is a go-getter ready to scramble, push and pull to get what she wants.

“It’s good to bear the first-timer tag because you can play this to your advantage to emerge victorious,” she says with a chuckle.

Her interest in ODM began before the 2007 General Election while teaching at the University of Nairobi. She believes previous party officials like outgoing secretary-general Anyang’ Nyong’o have done a tremendous job in building the party.

“I have to acknowledge this from the outset. The current leadership has done a great job at making clear what the party stands for. This is not something you can take away from them,” she told the Sunday Nation.

HER CONCERNS

The senator further revealed that as the secretary-general she would respect the party’s tradition but would also invent new ways to make it more appealing in readiness for the next General Election.

“ODM has remained the only national party. But in 2013, we became a victim of our own success. Our very popularity became our curse,” she said, alluding to the bungled ODM nominations in the run-up to the March 4 General Election.

Her soul is also troubled and concerned that Kenyans are getting increasingly frustrated due to the high cost of living and rising insecurity.

“Millions of Kenyans are wondering how come nothing is changing for them however hard they work. ODM worries daily about these issues. That is why we believe in a social democracy that is committed to capitalism with a human face,” she said.

Dr Zani’s vision for the party is to ensure the rule of law, an end to impunity, uphold constitutionalism and devolution, end unemployment, and to ensure social protection for the elderly and land reforms are addressed.