MCA Sarah Nyamvula dies in India

Mombasa Nominated MCA Sarah Nyamvula has died.

Nyamvula died in India Monday 10am (EAT), while undergoing treatment for lymphoid cancer.

Nyamvula’s elder brother James Kilifi said the late MCA had been battling cancer for the past four months.

Nyamvula had traveled to India on December 29, 2016 for advanced treatment.

“Nyamvula’s my younger sister. Cancer symptoms in her began to show four months ago when she went for a checkup in Nairobi, where she was diagnosed with lymphoid cancer. She thereafter flew to India for advanced treatment, where she succumbed to the disease today (Monday, January 23) morning,” said Mr Kilifi.

Nyamvula’s body will be flown into the country once funeral arrangements have been finalised.

Sarah Nyamvula had last year April declared her intention to vie for Mombasa Women Representative seat in the August 8 general election.

Nyamvula, during the launch of Nyali Sub-County last year, said she wanted to vie for the position so as to help advocate for equality in the county.

“I will vie for the Mombasa women rep position because very few women hold leadership positions in the Mombasa County Assembly and this must change. I urge you to vote for me in the 2017 polls,” she said.

The Nominated MCA said she had received reports of women in Frere Town being asked to pay KSh300 in order to register the births of their children.

“Women are calling me telling me that they have to pay at least KSh300 in order to register births. Why is this the case yet it is a government service?” posed Nyamvula.

She called on the Mombasa County Commissioner Evans Achoki to look into the matter.

The MCA also urged the county government to consider gender equality when allocating county jobs to residents.

Nyamvula was also a prominent farmer who mainly grew cherry tomatoes and oranges in greenhouses in her 7.5-acre farm, christened Foretu, in Kikambala, north coast.

She later diversified and embarked on growing herbs (parsely, sweet mint, sage, oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, basil, dill and wild rucola) used in cooking.

Nyamvula said she started growing the herbs following a demand by tourist hotels.

Report by Asha Bekidusa.