I hope to see Kenya elect its first female president – Kate Actress
By Dan Kauna, July 8, 2026Actress Catherine Kamau, popularly known as Kate Actress, has revealed the headline she most wants to see about Kenya in the next five years: a woman taking the country’s top office.
In an interview with a digital media house on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, Kate Actress was asked what headline she would like to read about Kenya five years from now.
“For me, it would be, ‘Kenya elects its first woman president'” she said, describing the moment as one that gave her goosebumps as she said it.
The actress, known for her long-running role as Celina in the Citizen TV drama Mother-in-Law, has built a public profile beyond acting over the years, including a stint as Goodwill Ambassador for the Bill Gates & Friends social movement and recognition with the Order of the Grand Warrior award during the 2024 Jamhuri Day celebrations.
A vote of confidence in Kenyan women
Reacting to her own answer, Kate Actress said she hoped to witness the milestone in her lifetime.
“I hope I live to see it. Because we are capable. We are capable,” she said.
Kenya has never had a woman serve as president or deputy president since independence in 1963. However, numerous women have held senior positions, including Chief Justice and Cabinet Secretaries.
The country adopted the two-thirds gender rule in its 2010 constitution, a provision meant to guarantee greater representation of women in elective and appointive positions, though implementation has remained a subject of debate in Parliament.
Beyond the screen
Kate Actress has increasingly used her public platform to comment on issues affecting Kenyan women, including through the Auntie Kate Foundation, which she founded to support vulnerable women and girls through education and advocacy on health and rights.
Her remarks add to an ongoing conversation among Kenyan public figures about representation in leadership. While she did not name any individual she believes could take up the mantle, her comments reflect a broader sentiment shared by many Kenyans keen to see more women in top political offices in the coming years.