Naisula Lesuuda

Naisula Josephine Lesuuda (born 30 April 1984) is a Kenyan politician and women's rights activist. She is a Member of the Parliament of Kenya.

Early life and education Lesuuda was born in Samburu on 30 April 1984, the first of three children born to an Anglican bishop and a businesswoman. She graduated from Daystar University with a degree in communications and community development. This in turn led to the founding of a number of other local peace organisations, supported by the Kenya government and USAid.

In 2013, Lesuuda left her job to found the Naisula Lesuuda Peace Foundation which advocates for the education of girls and for the eradication of female genital mutilation and child marriage. She was then elected Vice Chair of the Kenyan Women's Parliamentary Association. Naisula Lesuuda (R) with Onofiok Luke, a lawyer and legislator, and with Kenyan Ambassador to Somalia, Yvonne Khamati (L), on the final day of the African Union Youth Pre-forum in Nairobi in 2014. In 2016, she announced that she would leave the Senate to seek election as a member of the National Assembly for Samburu West, then in 2017 switching from the Jubilee to KANU party. She has maintained her support for Kenyatta. becoming the first female member of parliament for the Samburu West constituency. She was one of several women MPs who were the only women elected in their county. The others included Mary Emaase in Busia County, Mary Maingi in Kirinyaga County and Mishi Mboko in Mombasa.

When parliament sat in August 2017, she announced her intention to apply for the position of Deputy Speaker, but failed to submit her application before the vote.

She was re-elected in Samburu West Constituency at the 2022 general election.

Awards and honours

Presidential Order of the Grand Warrior for her journalistic work highlighting social issues and promoting peace, 2010