Former banker and businesswoman Josephine Miano has declared her interest in running for the Lari parliamentary seat in the 2027 general elections.
Miano states that her passion for community work and a desire to ensure residents are better represented drove her decision to seek the seat. She revealed that she realized poverty was a significant barrier to education, often hindering pupils from performing well in the classroom.
Born and raised at at Kirenga village where she started schooling at Nyamweru primary school in Lari sub county, she came to realise that poverty was a significant barrier to education.
To address this, she rolled out a program 13 years ago to donate school uniforms to nearly all primary schools within the constituency.
”I have a deep passion for serving the community. When I worked with them previously, I used to motivate them. That is when I realized some pupils cannot perform well due to low self-esteem caused by worn-out uniforms, while others struggle with hunger or issues at home,” she said.
Miano added that after consulting with parents, who responded positively, she launched the uniform program. Residents have been welcoming her warmly during village visits, with many promising to remember her efforts at the ballot box in 2027.
Joram Mwaura, a resident of Kinale, described Miano as approachable, confident, and encouraging. “She visits our villages whenever we have events at schools, churches, funerals, and even graduations or birthdays. She motivates our children to work hard regardless of their parents’ challenges, telling them to have hope for a beautiful future,” Mwaura said.
Another resident, Salome Nduta, remarked that Miano’s bid for office is long overdue given her years of philanthropy.
”I have known this lady for more than twenty years. Beyond the uniforms, she has paid school fees for needy children in primary, secondary, and even university levels. She has remained humble about it. We are surprised by her generosity; she deserves this seat because she has a big heart,” Nduta added.
