Nominated Nairobi senator Karen Nyamu says that Nairobi women will resort to unusual measures to compel policymakers to tunnel development to marginalized areas.

PHOTO | COURTESY  Karen Nyamu

Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday in support of a bill tabled to advocate for an increase in funds for slums, the senator who is pushing for more funds for her county said that she will mobilize women in the county to strip naked in the streets if need be, for their plight to be heard.

As Nairobi women, we are going to undress to get the attention of policy makers - Karen Nyamu pic.twitter.com/90fpdNF5x5


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“We have been crying as Nairobi for these slum dwellers and we have been ignored over the years and are going to result even to unorthodox means,” she stated.

“As Nairobi women in Laini Saba, Kiboro, Mji wa Huruma...we’re going to undress in this town if that is what it takes to be heard so that we get the attention of these policymakers and this House and the legislators. Nairobi is not a rich county; just because we are the seat of government and have rich estates does not mean we are rich,” she added.

PHOTO | COURTESY  Karen Nyamu

Nyamu referenced recent words by Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti while battling for the rights of the county's citizens in the East Portland Cement firm land demolitions, stating it is time for Nairobi to use whatever means are necessary to get the message across.

According to the nominated senator, the country's capital has long been excluded from such fiscal allocations, with legislators assuming Nairobi is a "rich county" despite facts demonstrating otherwise.


PHOTO | COURTESY  Karen Nyamu

She stated that many people live in slum areas and horrible living circumstances. A greater allocation would channel development while relieving the pressure on the already overburdened county budget.

She lamented that Nairobi has long been thought to be a wealthy city, disregarding Nairobi's slum people because we have wealthy estates like Karen and Muthaiga despite the city having enormous slums such as Kibera, Mathare, Korogocho, Kayabas, and Silanga.

Nyamu noted that she wants the House to recognize these regions as marginalized because they are marginalized.