In 1975, Kenya seemed to usher in a new era for women in politics when Meru elected its first female Member of Parliament.
Unfortunately, this did not last long, as after serving for only a few years, she was arrested and served a two-year jail term.
In this segment, Times Digital Kenya explores how the first female Meru MP went from victory to jail within a few years.
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Who was the first female Meru MP?
Annrita Karimi, a teacher at the time, vied for the Meru parliamentary seat in the male-dominated political arena in 1974.
Despite her father insisting that she stick to her teaching career, Karimi decided to follow her heart and take a gamble in politics. In the run-up to the election, she resigned from her job.
However, things did not go as planned after the 1974 general election, as she was unsuccessful, finishing a distant fourth with only 2,000 votes.
For Annrita Karimi, this was not the end of the world, as she remained patient, and another opportunity presented itself the following year, 1975, after Kabeere M’Mbijiwe’s victory was nullified.
She had to resign for the second time from her teaching job to take another shot at a political seat, once again facing M’Mbijiwe, who was Jomo Kenyatta’s point man in the region, along with other male aspirants.
Annrita emerged victorious in a landslide, defeating all her opponents who had been seen as favorites all along.
Events Leading to Annrita Karimi’s Arrest
Just three years after her 1975 victory, Karimi was allegedly accused in 1978 of mismanaging funds during her tenure as headteacher of St. Mary’s Secondary School in 1972. She was charged with the theft of a total of Sh56,510.40.
By the end of 1978, a Meru Magistrate’s Court found her guilty, and as a result, she served two years in prison. This also led to the loss of her parliamentary seat, a setback that has haunted her to this day.
She appealed to a High Court in Nairobi and the Court of Appeal, but all efforts were unsuccessful, and she lost her parliamentary seat when the National Assembly was dissolved in 1979. In the end, Annrita Karimi’s brief political career came to a dramatic close.
Never married
Annrita Karimi, a mother of two, has never been married and, in an interview with a local newspaper, stated that she does not intend to get married.
The former MP explained that it would be selfish to get engaged while leaving her children in the care of a friend. She added that her children were left in the care of relatives when she was imprisoned.
Annrita Karimi further stated that, due to her past experiences, she does not trust people easily and rarely invites anyone to her home.
