For many Kenyans, Lupita Nyong’o is the adorable daughter of Kenya who has used her acting talent to put the country’s flag on the international stage.
However, there are many people who are not aware that apart from acting, Lupita has a strong passion for advocating rights of persons with disabilities.
Long before Lupita acted in 12 years a slave, the film that brought her international fame, Lupita had directed a movie that sought to raise awareness of people living with albinism.
In 2006, while shooting In My Genes, Lupita met Isaac Mwaura – another strong advocate of the rights of people living with albinism.
Mwaura was at the time a little-known Kenyatta University student who had big dreams of succeeding in politics.
In a past interview, Mwaura narrated that when he met Lupita at the Kenya National Theatre (KNT), he asked for her help to meet then Kisumu Rural MP Anyang’ Nyong’o.
“In 2006, I met Lupita at the KNT when she was about to shoot her movie In My Genes. The movie was about albinism so I was helping her refine the concept,” he revealed.
“I asked Lupita to introduce me to her father. The rest is history,” recalled the MP.
Nyong’o, who is Lupita’s father and current Senator for Kisumu, was not only Mwaura’s mentor but he also had the connections in the top echelons of the ODM party.
After Lupita’s introduction to Senator Nyong’o, Mwaura’s star has continued to rise over the years.
He served as an advisor to then Prime Minister Raila Odinga on special interest groups during the coalition government and his exemplary performance saw him nominated to Parliament by ODM in 2013.
In the 11th parliament, Mwaura has made a name for himself as a strong defender of special interest groups and particularly those living with disabilities.
Mwaura also stands out as one of the few ODM defectors who respectfully left the ODM party as he seeks to vie for the Ruiru parliamentary seat on a Jubilee Party ticket.
