People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua has opened up about her journey through her 20s, revealing that she was raising a young family as a single mother while building her legal career and opposing dictatorship.
Karua shared the reflection as she prepares to celebrate her birthday in September, describing the month as a period when she takes stock of the experiences that shaped her life and career.
The former Justice and Constitutional Affairs minister recalled that she became a magistrate at the age of 24, taking on a demanding judicial responsibility while still navigating the challenges of early adulthood.
"At 24, I became a magistrate, a responsibility and a title that felt significant at that age, even as I was still figuring out life beyond the courtroom," Karua said.
She continued rising through the judicial ranks and by her late 20s had become a Senior Resident Magistrate. At the same time, she was raising a young family as a single mother.
Karua said she relied heavily on her sister and other family members for support as she balanced motherhood, her demanding profession and her involvement in the struggle against Kenya's authoritarian government at the time.
"By my late twenties, I had risen to Senior Resident Magistrate and was raising a young family as a single mother, although thankfully, with the support of my sister and family," she stated.
Looking back, Karua expressed admiration for the young woman she was and the challenges she managed to navigate during that period.
"Looking back, I wonder how that young woman managed to hold it all together while fighting against a dictatorship and remaining hopeful about the future I saw for myself, my country and family," she said.
Karua used her experience to encourage young people navigating uncertainty in their 20s, urging them not to be discouraged when they do not have a clear picture of their future.
"To those in your twenties, I hope you give yourself grace. You may not have all the answers, and you may not always know where the road is taking you but keep pushing against the tides that stand in your way," she said.
She encouraged young people to remain patient and trust the process as they build their lives, noting that progress can emerge gradually.
Karua concluded her reflection by celebrating the woman she was in her 20s and those still finding their path, before turning her attention to the next chapter of her story.