Rehema Kiteto: 24-year-old author passionate about leadership in Kwale

At only 24, Rehema Kiteto has authored a book, is passionate about leadership and is keen on serving the constituents of Samburu and larger Kwale County as a youth advocate.

She has been described by those close to her as a ambitious, vocal and cannot tolerate injustices against girls and women.

Rehema hails from Kinango Constituency, Kwale County, where she resides with her parents and siblings and is a youth leader, freelance social worker, author, social blogger and book editor.

She launched her career in the media industry in Kenya.

“After graduating from Egerton University in August 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts (Sociology, English & Literature), I joined the print media team of Standard Media Group in Nakuru.

“I enjoyed the profession and was planning to go back to school and do a post-graduate diploma in journalism. That was until my dad thought otherwise about my career in the media industry. I tried defending my interests, but I lost to dad and found myself back at home; something that had not crossed my mind.”

She proudly shared some of her career achievements and how they have shaped her life.

“Once I was home, I embarked on finding where to utilise my sociology knowledge now that my writing one had failed to materialise. My community in Samburu received me so well. I had left as a young village girl, and now I was back with a degree on one hand and the title of an author in another. This felt like a heroic achievement to the community.

“I began interacting with them and noticed a few things. Poor academic performance, lack of enlightenment and poverty in my community was persistent since my childhood days.”

So she started attending community meetings and visiting schools while offering guidance and counselling. I also motivated pupils for better academic performance. This was through the help of a mentor that God blessed me with, Administrator Hassan Nyae.”

Her desire to grow in her career in formal employment saw her apply for potential job and internship opportunities that were not bearing fruit so she continued to bond with the community.

“I have been involved with several NGOs, County Governments and National Government Programs. Currently, I serve as a volunteer or freelance social worker.”

Some of Rehema’s achievements include:

• In 2020, the Ministry of Labour & Social Protection Department of Social Development awarded me a certificate as a volunteer of the year in Kwale County during the International volunteerism Day Celebrations.

• In 2021, on 7th March during (siku ya akina Mama wa Kwale), I was awarded a certificate of recognition as one of the outstanding women (under 35) in Kwale County.

• Going about my community advocacy roles, I earned the position of a youth leader representing my ward as well as the deputy speaker and chair of the gender mainstreaming committee of Kwale Youth Assembly. This assembly was formed in 2019 to influence youth inclusion in policy formulation, implementation and decision making in good governance for sustainable socio-economic and political development.

As a staunch believer in the empowerment and mentorship of young girls and women, she shared her experience in working with the community and the impact that has helped realised.

“I strongly believe in empowerment and mentorship as a way of bettering our community. An empowered community is a developed community. I focus on children, women and youth because I feel these segments are our economic drivers; if you want to know the economic status of a community, have a look at its women.

“Empowerment goes hand in hand with other development factors. It has been an exciting and exhausting experience for me. When you pose as a guardian angel, then expect to find many stranded souls lined up waiting for you to rescue them. Sometimes some cases have been brought my way that are beyond my capability, often requiring legal, financial aid and counselling.”

But something that has grabbed the attention of many is her social media pages and their continued publishing of political material pointing at a potential run for a political seat in Kwale County in 2022.

“My political ambitions came as a result of my interaction with my community in Samburu. Since I began serving in the community, I have learnt the struggles and dreams of my people. I feel that my people need more than I can currently offer, so I need to be influential.”

She said he venture into elective politics will help her get better networks, better position of power and influence, authority and power over systems and access to resources.

“There is no better way to achieve the above other than getting myself right into politics. So many people talk ill of politics, describing it as a dirty game, but they should realise that politics runs every aspect of our lives, and we all can’t afford to ignore politics. I want to give my people the representation they deserve at the County Assembly of Kwale. I am ready, and I am preparing myself to be on the ballot boxes in 2022.

“The youth are the most energetic, open-minded, creative age group. This makes them top drivers of change and development. Therefore, having many of them into the political space where everything gets decided upon means a lot in terms of their inclusion and progress in our development.”

Here are the three most critical needs in her community that she says she will address if elected.

1. Basic needs: food, water, shelter

2. Quality services, e.g. health, education, legal aid

3. Land justice

Rehema had advice for the youth seeking to resolve problems in their community but face financial challenges:

• Build networks. Have an extended network as much as possible. It opens doors and new opportunities, and you gain new insights.

• Learn to relate well. Always strive to have good relationships with all people; the old and the young, the rich and the poor, women and men, leaders and civilians, people of different social status.

• Exercise patience and tolerance. Our ideologies are so different, and that means not everyone will support your course. So be patient with them. But, in the long run, they will join in your pursuits.

• Be persistent. Hold on to your goals despite the setbacks and challenges you face. Focus on your goal.

• Apply tact diplomacy. Know when and how in every journey you pursue.

She also spoke about ‘Hell in the Backyard and Other Stories’, a children’s book that she wrote.

“This is a grade five-book. I published it in 2019 while still in campus. It is not my first writing project, though. I have written a novel, which is yet to be published.

“I was getting my novel published when I met Charles Okoth, who has remained my writing mentor to date. He connected me with Writers Guild Kenya, a platform for budding writers, and he is also the one who told me Queenex publishers were accepting manuscripts. So I wrote it to completion, and he helped me in editing, and by God’s favour, they got accepted. They combined my six stories with Kelvin Shachile, my co-author, and we got published.”

That book which is available in local bookshops has acted as an opener to so many opportunities.

She also shared how three things have shaped her life;

• Confidence. For me, this is about remaining on course even when doubts are your only company. You’ll know you are confident when you stick to your course despite fears and doubts. It has continued to expand my network and enabled me to hold programmes and projects, one after another, successfully.

• Proactiveness. This has been one of my strengths. It has saved me many times from falling into traps. For instance, even in dealing with the community, noticing a problem early enough and planning a solution has made me stand out.

• Mentorship. I am where I am, as a result of a series of mentorship. My parents; Mr and Mrs Kiteto, have been my early foundation mentors and continue being mentors, especially in matters of personal grooming, discipline and life. I have had a mentor in every phase of my life, including all my diverse involvements, writing, politics and leadership, community service etc. Young people are blessed with creative minds that are always idea-oriented. So it takes a mentor to help you pick the right idea and actualise it into actions.

8. The unemployment rate and mental health issues have been rising fast, affecting many young people. What are her thoughts about this?

“With high unemployment rates, many people are prone to depression. I have struggled with depression a couple of times, but I thank God for those around me. Most of us fall into depression because of the hardships we encounter while pursuing our goals, frustrations from our families, the community, and ourselves.

“Interestingly, unemployment and mental health are both on the same scale. This is because young people are energetic and so ambitious and need grounds to utilise these. So until unemployment is cubed, mental health issues rates will be on the increase, so we need to find ways to curb this.”

So, what kind of support does she need to achieve her dream of becoming among the youthful leaders in our country come 2022?

“I am capable, and I am ready. But I will definitely need financial support and opportunities to attend seminars and training to understand the political world better.”

What is the fundamental setback you have faced in your career and how have you overcome?

“My gender. There are times I’ve felt so handicapped because I’m a woman. I have had to let go of some opportunities because the one manning the opportunity wants to have his way with me before the opportunity is granted to me.

“Sometimes, my family has been overprotective and refused to let me take up opportunities because they feel that’s too risky for me, yet the same doesn’t apply to my brother. Other times I felt handicapped when get overloaded with cultural expectations of me as a woman. It is so frustrating, but I look forward to a time when there are fewer of these gender sidelines, and that is what I’m advocating for today. Women need their freedom to be the vest version of themselves.”

Parting shot

• We, young people, are ambitious, energetic, creative, and dream big. It’s a rare blessing that comes with our age. If we learn to tap into this while ignoring the detractors, then we can achieve all our dreams.

• It is not a waste of time to start from scratch. Growing is inevitable. “Every day we are becoming,” as Mitchell Obama, my role model, says. We never stop becoming. Just focus on who you want to become or be. And while at it, remember to pay caution not to fall prey to depression.

• Always forgive yourself. Every morning when I wake up ‘I forgive myself. It’s a whole new day, and that means you hadn’t rehearsed how to live it.

• So the mistakes you’ve made were unavoidable.’ And always remember to stay strong. If not for you, then for the millions behind you.

Interview by Patience Nyange and Esther Kiragu.