Aisha Jumwa: You can score grade D- in high school and still get somewhere in life

Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action Cabinet Secretary (CS) nominee Aisha Jumwa is insistent that scoring relatively lower grades in high school does not necessarily translate to being a failure in life.

Speaking in Parliament on Tuesday, when she was being vetted by the House's Committee on Appointments, the former Malindi MP stated that she is a prime example of how determination, regardless of academic performance, can lead one to success.

Jumwa made the utterances in response to a query fielded by Pokot South MP David Pkosing who questioned how Jumwa managed to get a university degree even after getting a D- in high school.

"It wasn't easy for me to score those marks you are saying because I had to take myself to class after dropping in Form Two. I struggled as a private candidate but I took it as a challenge that I had to be better and serve the society better," said Jumwa.

She went on to state that she is not ashamed of having scored a D- in secondary school, noting that the matter was public and that it never once limited her from pursuing a career in politics.

"So I am not even shy because it is in the public domain but I think that should not be used to judge Aisha Jumwa on sitting in the Cabinet. I think the person who nominated me to this position did his due diligence and saw that I am fit if approved by Parliament," she stated.

According to Jumwa, her rags to riches story has served as an inspiration to many Kenyans who didn't necessarily perform well in school to pursue other endeavours instead of sulking over the bad grades.

"I represent many who today are looking at Aisha Jumwa as a role model in that you can have a D or D- and get somewhere in life," she said.