Power women achievers 2010 - The Daredevils

ASUNTA WAGURAWhen she tested HIV-positive 20 years ago, many expected her to drop dead in six months.
But she has since been a great inspiration to many Kenyans who have tested positive.
Despite the controversy that surrounded the birth of her second child, Asunta went ahead and conceived her third son, who was born in the last quarter of last year.
By daring the devil (and the sceptics), Asunta has proven that being HIV-positive is not the end of the world, but the beginning of a different lifestyle that should not be devoid of the joys and pleasures of the ‘normal’ world.
ANN NJOGUShe is best remembered for filing a successful constitutional reference (Section 49) now popularly referred to as ‘Ann Njogu and others vs. State’ that limits the time a Kenyan citizen can be held in police custody to 24 hrs.
Hundreds of Kenyans have since used this landmark ruling to secure their release when police arbitrarily arrest them.
Mid last year, Ann was awarded the International Women of Courage Award for her dedication to fight against human rights violations in Kenya. The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton and US first lady Michelle Obama awarded her.
This is the only award within the Department of State that pays tribute to outstanding women leaders worldwide, recognising them for their courage and struggle for social justice and human rights.
FLORENCE JAOKOAs the chairperson of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Florence has remained steadfast in fighting for the rights of the under-privileged against the forces of the powerful.
Towards the end of last year, she was forced to support a damning report that incriminated several politicians and businessmen and women as masterminds of the post-election violence.
She tabled this report at the International Criminal Court at The Hague and has shown commitment in helping to bring the suspects to answer for their responsibility in the violence that saw hundreds killed and thousands displaced from their homes.　
ACADEMIA
PROF OLIVE MUGENDAShe will go down the annals of history as the first woman professor to be appointed Vice-Chancellor of a public university and she has taken Kenyatta University to a whole new level. During her tenure, Kenyatta University became the first university to be ISO certified.
Last year was a busy year for Prof Mugenda as she oversaw the opening of Pwani University, a branch of Kenyatta University at the Coast.
She has also expanded the departments at the university to include hospitality, law and medicine. Her no-nonsense approach has seen her remain at the peak of one of East Africa’s largest universities.
It is, therefore, not surprising, that her term as Vice-Chancellor has been extended for another five years.
SPORTS
NANCY LAGATThree weeks ago, she was crowned the Soya Sports Woman of the Year at the KICC, thanks to her efforts on the track.
The Africa, Commonwealth and Olympic 1,500m champion also made history after she won Kenya’s second women’s gold medal in the Olympic games history.
This was her sixth jewel in an illustrious season that also saw her become the world number one over the 1,500m distance in the Diamond league.EDNA KIPLAGAT
Last year was certainly Edna’s defining moment starting with an outstanding performance in March at the Los Angeles marathon where she won the women’s field and "The Challenge", earning $145,000 (about Sh11.6million).
A few months later in June, she won the 2010 Steamboat Classic 4-Mile followed by her victory at the Boilermarker 15km in Utica, New York. Then in November, after running two hours, 28 minutes and 20 seconds, Edna became the women’s winner of the NYC Marathon, earning $130,000 (about Sh10.4million). What a great year.
VIVIANE CHERUIYOTShe took the athletics world by storm after winning the 2010 IAAF world indoor championships, becoming the African Champion. She also won the Commonwealth Games champion and IAAF Continental Cup champion, as well as winning the 2010 IAAF Diamond League title.
THE KENYAN VOLLEYBALL QUEENS
At the Soya gala event, the Kenya Prisons women volleyball team was crowned the best women’s team for their sterling performance last year. Currently, they are the national and African volleyball champions.
Despite their loss at the World Volleyball Club championships in Doha Qatar, these queens ought to be saluted for making the country proud.
MUSIC
KAVUTHA ASIYO
She is the voice coach of all seasons. Through the four Tusker Project Fame seasons, Coach Kavutha has displayed dedication and tenacity in whipping the ‘students’ to good vocal shape. Kavutha has played a huge role in turning budding musicians into Africa’s finest voices.
AMANI
Cecilia Wairimu, popularly known as Amani, is admired for her energy and song writing prowess. The Mama winner celebrated her crowning moment last year when she became the only African female musician selected to join R Kelly’s super group One8.
Based in Chicago, USA, the group has produced authentic African music.
The pan-African group is set to record music through recording giant Sony, which has sponsored other music icons like Elvis Presley and Alicia Keys.
The all-star group is taking the best music from Africa to the global stage, connecting millions of fans through the universal language of music.
ELIZABETH NJOROGE
This soprano-voiced musician has given Kenyans a fresh option to local music by making classical music part of Kenya’s popular culture.
After living abroad for 14 years, she decided it was time to bring home the tune, a concept that has received a warm welcome in Kenya.
She runs an organisation known as The Art of Music that provides opportunities to budding musicians as well as promotes classical music.
During the promulgation ceremony, another organisation she formed ‘The National Youth Orchestra of Kenya ‘ rocked the crowd, in a bid to show that indeed classical music has found a niche in our country.
This year, she organised what was the regions biggest classical music concert, the Safaricom Classical Fusion Festival, which hosted about 400 performers from Kenya and South Africa and attracted hundreds of classical music fans.EMMY KOSGEY

Her music is unique and fresh, as it is in her native language, Kalenjin. Her star has continued to shine, and her two Groove Awards are proof of this.
Emmy has on several occasions been invited to State functions, and at the new Constitution promulgation ceremony, she pulled off a major feat when First Lady Lucy Kibaki rose to her feet to dance to her hit single.
HELLEN MTAWALI
She was the no-nonsense, tough talking Tusker Project Fame Season 4 principal who is as good a musician as she is a teacher (she is a lecturer at Daystar University).
Her motherly, disciplinary approach to teaching music was clear to all, leading to the superb four musicians of this year’s TPF4.
Mtawali believes in youth and raw talent, which is why she formed the band Afrizo to tap into the immense talent in Kenyan youth.　
CREATIVE ARTS
WANURI KAHIU
This award winning scriptwriter and movie director has received more awards that we can mention here.
Last year, however, saw her movie Pumzi win ‘Best Short Film’ at the Cannes Independent Film Festival (CIFF), which runs simultaneously with the main Cannes International Film Festival.
The same movie saw her win the 2010 edition of Kalasha Awards for Best Director.Previously, Wanuri has received the Motion Pictures of America Associates Award and the Hollywood Foreign Press Award for Distinguished Directors for her student film Ama’s Mama.
Before filming Ras Star, Wanuri directed the behind-the-scenes documentary for Phillip Noyce’s Catch-A-Fire (Universal/Working Title Films).