Biography
Aisha Jumwa Karisa Katana was born on 28th March 1975 in Takaungu, Kilifi. She is popularly known as Shangazi wa Taifa in Kenyan politics.
Aisha’s parents are Karisa Katana and Sidi Kazungu. She is the second born in a family of 5. However, her father had 6 wives and 28 children.
On September 27, 2022, Aisha was nominated as Cabinet Secretary of public service. She is the former Malindi Member of Parliament.
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Aisha Jumwa Education Journey
Aisha started her education journey at Takaungu primary school (1990). She later left for Taita Taveta for her secondary education at Murray Girls. She didn’t stay there for long as she transferred to Ganze Secondary school (1991-1992) where she dropped out in form two due to lack of fees. That didn’t push her back as in 2011 she later enrolled at Nyali senior school (2011) where she did her Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE).
Aisha then proceeded to Jomo Kenyatta University in 2012 where she did a Certificate in County Governance. She also acquired a Diploma at JKUAT. Aisha also graduated with a bachelor’s degree in commerce in 2016 still at JKUAT.
In 2020 she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Leadership and Management from the International Leadership University.
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Aisha Career history
She was elected councilor and chairperson for Kilifi under KANU in 2002. In 2017 she vied for the seat of Bahari Member of Parliament but lost to the late Benedict Gunda.
In 2013 under Orange Democratic Movement, she tried her luck for the Women’s Representative seat and won becoming Kilifi’s first Woman Rep.
Aisha vied for the Malindi Parliamentary seat and won still under (ODM).
She vied for the Governor’s seat in 2022 to succeed then-governor Amason Kingi under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) but lost to Gideon Mungaro.
However, Aisha Jumwa defected to the then Deputy President (now president) side after a “handshake.” She has been camping there landing favor in the eyes of the President, to be nominated as a CS Public Service.
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Aisha Jumwa foundation
The former MP started the Aisha Jumwa foundation to provide support and care to marginalized girls, orphans, and other vulnerable children.
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Aisha Jumwa’s husband and children
After dropping out of school she got married as a young girl though it didn’t last long. They separated as she had ambitions to join politics something which her husband was against. She paid back her dowry to her in-laws. Aisha was then married to politician Karisa Nzai Munyika in the year 200 but divorced in 2014.
It is also reported that she had an intimate relationship wither bodyguard Geoffrey Otieno.
The nominated CS is currently single and mother to Karisa Kalume, Selina Selume, and Ruth.
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Aisha Jumwa Net worth
Though unofficial the nominated CS is estimated to be worth roughly KSh 80 – KSh100 million
Aisha Jumwa Karisa Katana Controversy
She got arrested together with her bodyguard after a person was shot in her home. However, they were released on bail of KSh.500k. The court later found that there wasn’t enough evidence.
She was also brought to book by the Directorate of Criminal Investigation for KSh.19 million in public funds that were looted.
DPP withdraws graft case Aisha Jumwa
Although the DPP had launched a KSh. 19 million graft case against the former MP, on September 12, 2022, the DPP dropped the case.
The dropping of the case elicited mixed reactions among Kenyans. The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) is cited to have asked the DPP, Noordin Haji to give an explanation why he dropped the graft case.
Aisha was co-accused together with Wachu Omar, Kennedy Otieno, Bernard Riba, Sophia Saidi, Margaret Kalume, Robert Katana and Multiserve contractors.