lot of emotions about my sex and exploited negative cultural and religious practices unsuccessfully with the hope of winning the hearts and mind of the Muslim voters. My election was not taken lightly by the male candidates and with the help of senior government officials from the area, they petitioned the government to disqualify my election on public interest. Asa result victory was stolen from.me and the people's wish to elect the person of their choice was prevented. It was a major blow to the community. and me but no amount of cry could change the situation since the county was under dictatorship and words of the president and party leadership were final. The government and the party establishment listened and considered the views of pro-religious and pro-cultural opponents of my election instead of leaving democracy to prevail. However, after the election was stolen from me and as soon as I could recollect myself, I went back to the grassroots and embarked on community education ,and development. I joined the civil society and conducted civic education to educate the community on leadership and constitutional reforms. One of the lessons I learnt during the election was that women were not represented: in political parties leadership and it was easy to rig them out during elections. They were also left out in major political decisions. As a result I joined the Orange Democratic party, a pro-reform. opposition party and become a member of the national executive council and was fortunate to be nominated by this party to the Kenyan parliament in 2007. Looking back to the road I took to political leadership, one thing is certain; I have overcome individual and systemic challenges to be where I am today as a member of the Kenyan parliament. I believe this is the same for all minority women in leadership no