poverty, lack of education and economic empowerment our community faced then and offered myself for an elective leadership position to represent our community at the Kenyan parliament in 1997. As a result, I become the first Somali woman to contest for a parliamentary seat in Kenya. These become big news to our community and country since no women from our community ever aspired to this position and worse enough Muslim communities were not known for female leadership representation. I also belonged to an ethnic and religious minority who are not known to have such ambition. It was unprecedented and the most trying time of my entire life. The campaign period was tough and the strength of my faith, family, place in society and personal convictions were tested. Negative cultural and religious practices were used against me during the campaigns. The male candidates reminded the community about the traditional and religious role of women and stated that God will curse a community' led by women. The community was informed that this curse may kill their children and animals and that they should not be the first Muslim community in the country to elect a woman. It is such cultural stereotypes, that are a hindrance to ,the success of minority women in political participation. During my campaign, I could still remember male candidates equating a woman's intelligence that of little children. But to the surprise of many, the people overwhelmingly elected me against the male candidates. My track record in community development was unmatched and the people resonated with my message of hope, unity and community development. The male candidates were very divisive and their campaign Was about attacking me as a woman whereas my campaign was based on issues, ideas and platform of change. They created a.