By Kamau Kuria
Hezena Lemaletian is an activist from Samburu county who rose to fame during the Azimio la Umoja Convention held at the Kasarani National Stadium on 10th December 2021. It’s in this event that ODM leader Raila Odinga declared he would run for the presidency. This article looks into her biography highlighting her family, career, education, personal life, and more details.
Age, Place of Birth, and Family
She was born in Samburu to a father who served as District Commissioner. Hezena however lost her father whom she says inspired her life path and was a big influence on who she has grown to be.
Education
Hezena Lemaletian attended primary school in Maralal at a school called Milimani. She then joined St. Theresa Girls High School for her secondary school education. For her higher education studies, Hezena joined the University of Nairobi to pursue Finance.
Career
Beginning of 2012, she was a finance officer putting her university degree into practice before she veered into Community development.
Also Read: Ababu Namwamba: From Raila’s Golden Boy to Living Like a King
Hezena has always been passionate about the rights of minority groups having gone through that life firsthand. She champions the rights of marginalised groups in Kenya. She is the reigning Miss Commonwealth Kenya, Charity Ambassador for the Commonwealth, and a Global Peace Ambassador. She uses her positions to air the challenges her people face at home and the developments they would wish to see in their regions.
Lemaletian is the founder of the Pastoralists Sports Initiative a venture that seeks to empower the youth economically through culture and sports. The Initiative aims at creating peace and cohesion among the Samburu by occupying them in sports activities and having little time to engage in cattle rustling.
Her efforts to improve the lives of her community has seen her gain an audience in radio stations, television stations, online platforms, and global spaces such as the African Women Summit 2021 convened in Dubai.
Politics
Politically, Hezena Lemaletian is allied to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. She served as Secretary-General with ‘Vijana na Rao’, an outfit that was used by the ODM leader to reach the Kenyan youth. She was charged with formulating strategies and means to promote Odinga’s presidential bid. Her speech at the Azimio la Umoja convention caught the attention of thousands of Kenyans.
Nominated to the senate
The two time beauty queen was nominated to the senate by Raila Odinga. She took to social media to thank the ODM leader:
“Thank you Baba @RailaOdinga for keeping the promise. I will deliver,” she wrote.
