As she joins a pool of women in leadership, Karen Cheptoo Birech, the newly elected Kabarak University President is in pursuit of mental health awareness among students and female empowerment in her school.

The third-year Law student is taking over from Loraine Chemutai Koskei who just concluded her term this year.

Ms. Birech explains that stepping into the leadership space in university is something she always wanted but initially shied away from.

“I always wanted to be a leader on campus but I knew campus politics was hard. It took the efforts of my friends convincing me and believing in me before I gave the presidential race a shot,” she said.

She notes that a student has to go for a docket, first after which the winner can run for the presidential seat.

“I vied for Director of Lady’s Hostel and Campus Security before I was voted in as the chairperson of Kabarak University Student Organization (KUSO) where I will serve in both offices until I finish my term,” said Birech.

President of Kabarak University Student Organization (KUSO) Karen Birech

Photo credit: COURTESY

Her plan after assuming office is to help students in her institution navigate through mental health challenges.

“I am a progressive person and I appreciate change. I would love to help young people in Kabarak believe in themselves and have them chase their dreams confidently. I want to come up with a club advocating for mental health awareness and help reflect positively through mental health talks,” she explained

The 21-year-old however notes that her biggest challenge during the election period was stereotyping, since her predecessor was a lady. She found it challenging convincing other students why they had to vote back a female president.

Other than her studies and politics, the school leader is good at board games and has been representing her institution in chess games.

Cheptoo takes this role as a stepping stone to national politics where she hopes to vie for the Woman representative seat and later the Presidential seat.

Her win was celebrated on Twitter by top leaders in Kenya including the Sports CS Ababu Namwamba and the former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga.

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Kabarak University's student leader Karen Birech hopes to be Kenya's President in future

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