Zipporah Kittony
Member
Hon. Dr. Zipporah Kittony is an enigma in both the political arena and women rights and advocacy space. She has worked in various fields of development. She has been an active Senator in the 11th Parliament(March 2013-August 2017) of Kenya and also former Chairlady of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake after serving the organization for 11 years being the second longest serving chair of the largest grass root women organization.
In the Senate, she served as the Vice Chairperson, Health, Labour and Social Welfare, a position that she says enabled her collaborate with others to ensure the rights of the minority, including women, children and the youth are safeguarded.
In the course of her career she has been very instrumental in working with other NGOs in promoting women to leadership. She initiated several projects during her tenure including promotion of girl-child education, eradication of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), mobilizing women to good leadership and to aspire for better quality life among numerous other projects
Because of her contribution, she has a host of accolades on her back. She is the recipient of many awards, including Kenya’s Order of the Grand Warrior (OGW) and the Moran of the Burning Spear (MBS), both awarded by former President Moi, a Honorary Doctorate Degree by The United Graduate College of Tennessee, USA, for her humanitarian activities and peace initiatives. She is the holder of Woman of the Year 1999, awarded by the American Biographical Institute in the US. She is also the Goodwill ambassador for the mentally handicapped.
She has attended numerous conferences both locally and internationally, including the 1975 World Women Decade Conference in Mexico, as well as other UN meetings on the status of women.
She has educated and mentored many girls and orphans through her philanthropic and developmental initiatives.
She was nominated to the 8th parliament as a member of Parliament as a member of the August house for one term – 1997 – 2002. She served in various positions in the Agricultural sector in the Agricultural Society of Kenya and made history in being the first female chair of the society in the country in 1985 to 1992. She is currently the Vice patron of the Agricultural Society of Kenya
She has also been a very active in the Kenya Africa National Union (KANU) political party and an active participant in all aspects of development in the rural community of Trans Nzoia County.
