Aisha Jumwa Katana was born in 1975 and is the second born in a family of five children. She schooled at Takanga Primary School, and Murray Secondary School where she dropped out in form two. She later joined Ganze Secondary School and Nyali Senior School, before proceeding to Jomo Kenyatta University for Agriculture and Technology for a Certificate in County Governance. The mother of three, she overcame personal challenges where hse dropped out of school briefly in Form Two to have a child and later returned to complete secondary school and even proceeded to earn a Degree in Commerce from Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology. Her motivation to lead came from watching her father compose songs, perform and dance while campaigning for the area councilor and later leading as the elected chairperson of the local land adjudication scheme where he was able to make a lasting positive impact on people’s lives. She chose to seek an elective position in order to also make positive impact on many lives. A community mobiliser and advocate for the girl child, Hon. Jumwa’s vision is to see Malindi constituency develop.
Prior to joining politics, Hon. Jumwa worked for Kaseru Enterprises, a construction company based in Kilifi where her leadership skills were sharpened. She established the Aisha Jumwa Foundation through which she lobbies for marginalized residents that includes youth, women and the girl child. The foundation has successfully and supported women and girls in the community, and supporting youth to start businesses. Hon, Jumwa has also ensured sanitary pad distribution is done on schools in more than 50 primary snc secondary schools in Kilifi county as well as mentorship programs on leadership are initiated in the public service. She has also donated foodstuff to hungry residents in Ganze and conducted civic education in the county. As part of encouraging agricultural uptake, Hon, Jumwa supported seven greenhouses being put up. Hon, Jumwa has served as the Woman Representative for Kilifi county and is seeking election now as the Member of Parliament representative for Malindi constituency. Widely known as an advocate for women and girls in Kilifi county, she is credited with several projects focused on women and youth from poor backgrounds as well as orphans. She has also donated shades to the Malindi market, assisted in building schools in Malindi such as Sosobora Secondary School, Ganda and Maweni primary schools among others and encouraging vibrant table-banking among women groups where 500 groups have been registered to date and are successfully running table-banking. She has improved several schools including Vuma Primary School. Hon Jumwa initiated a program through which women and youth are educated on the process of applying for and efficiently utilizing the Uwezo Fund and the Women Enterprise Fund. Under this program she has helped women and youth register new development groups through which she avails to them professional advice on self-reliance. Hon. Jumwa was a KANU party youth leader and was elected twice as the councilor for Takaungu ward between 1997 and 2007, losing the seat only to the ODM euphoria in 2007. She also served as the chairperson of Kilifi Town Council between 2005 and 2007 where she initiated and completed several projects including the Kilifi Car part, several rural access roads, water projects, schools and medical facilities; with facilities such as Takangu Dispensary constructed and operational under her leadership. Hon. Aisha Jumwa, who is a member of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), also sits on the Committee on Environment and Natural Resources and the Labour and Social Welfare Committee in parliament.
Jumwa’s loyalty to ODM leader Raila Odinga started dimming when Deputy President William Ruto started frequenting Coast.She later left ODM to join Ruto’s wing as one of the many barking dogs trooping to the DPs camp.The outspoken iron lady is set to vie for Kilifi Gubernatorial seat which is currently being occupied by Amason Kingi.
