Hon. Fatuma Achani is the Governor of Kwale County and is recognised as Kenya’s first female Muslim governor. She is seeking a second term in 2027.

LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

A lawyer with a Bachelor of Laws from Moi University, she worked as legal counsel for FIDA-Kenya, championing human rights and gender equality. She served two consecutive terms as Deputy Governor of Kwale County under Salim Mvurya before winning the governorship in 2022 on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket with 59,674 votes. She is a member of the G7 Strategy Caucus, which works across party lines to empower women leaders and increase the number of female governors.

Her administration focuses on expanding the Elimu Ni Sasa county bursary scheme, improving maternal healthcare, upgrading rural roads and providing clean water to arid parts of the county. She aims to rely on her record in infrastructure and education and to continue to break barriers for Muslim and coastal women in leadership.