Meet the Trans Nzoia lady turning compassion into policy

When Janerose Nasimiyu Mutama visits a school in Trans Nzoia County, the reaction is almost always the same. Teachers light up, students wave excitedly, and communities gather to listen. For many, she represents something rare in local leadership, compassion translated into action.

As the County Executive Committee Member for Education and Vocational Training, Mutama has built a reputation as a hands-on leader who sees dignity as central to education. Her initiatives from providing sanitary towels to girls to distributing boxers and soap to boys have not only transformed lives but also earned her national recognition.

Recently, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA Kenya) honoured her with a Special Excellence Award for championing the rights of women, girls, and children. The award, presented during FIDA’s 40th anniversary celebrations in Nairobi, recognized her work in advancing inclusive education and restoring dignity among learners in Trans Nzoia.

“This award is not mine alone,” Mutama said during the ceremony. “It belongs to every girl who refused to give up, every teacher who continues to mentor, and every woman who believes in the power of education.”

Her story is one of empathy turned into effective policy.

One of her first moves as CEC was to launch the Dignity Kit Programme, designed to provide sanitary towels, underwear, and other hygiene items to schoolgirls. The initiative arose after she discovered that many girls missed several days of school each month due to a lack of sanitary pads.

“When I learned that some girls were skipping a week of class because of their periods, I was deeply troubled,” she said. “No child should miss school because of something so natural.”

The programme has since reached thousands of girls across all sub-counties, improving attendance and retention. Teachers report that girls now participate more confidently in class, and communities are speaking more openly about menstrual hygiene , a topic once wrapped in silence and stigma.

But Mutama soon realized that her vision of dignity had to go beyond gender. In some households, she learned, boys attended school wearing torn underwear or none at all. Others lacked basic personal hygiene supplies, affecting their confidence and attendance.

To fix that, her office extended the initiative to include school-going boys, offering them boxers, soap, and other essentials. The decision drew widespread praise for its inclusivity.

“Boys also need to feel valued,” she said. “We cannot empower girls and forget the boys. A dignified boy becomes a respectful man, just as a dignified girl becomes an empowered woman.”

Teachers across Trans Nzoia say the results have been remarkable, improved self-esteem, better discipline, and higher attendance among boys.

Beyond learners, Mutama has also turned her attention to those who nurture them teachers. She founded the Women Teachers’ Wellness Initiative, a network that brings together over 1,000 female educators to support each other through mentorship, mental health awareness, and professional growth.

“Teachers carry many burdens,” Mutama said. “When they are emotionally and mentally healthy, their classrooms thrive.”

Her department has also partnered with vocational training centres to help young mothers and girls who dropped out of school gain skills in tailoring, catering, hairdressing, and plumbing. Many of the trainees now run small businesses, supporting their families and regaining confidence.

“Education is not just about exams,” she said. “It’s about empowerment giving people tools to rebuild their lives.”

Before she became Education CEC, Mutama served as Trans Nzoia’s CEC for Lands, where she fought tirelessly for women’s property rights. She helped widows reclaim land seized from them and worked with legal aid organizations to secure justice for vulnerable families. FIDA Kenya cited her consistency in advocating for gender equity as a key reason for her recognition.

“Janerose Mutama represents what true leadership looks like empathetic, grounded, and transformative,” a FIDA official said during the award ceremony.

Known for her humility and field presence, Mutama spends most of her time visiting schools, listening to teachers, and encouraging students. On weekends, she attends mentorship sessions and community dialogues, preaching the message of education and equality.

“True leadership is service,” she says simply. “It’s about turning compassion into policy making sure government responds to real needs.”

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand both the Dignity Kit and boys’ welfare programmes to cover every public school in Trans Nzoia. She also plans to institutionalize the Women Teachers’ Wellness Initiative as a permanent county policy and introduce a bursary fund for young mothers returning to school.

“My dream is to see Trans Nzoia known not just for its fertile land,” she said, “but for raising confident, educated, and empowered citizens.”

Education stakeholders say her impact is already visible. Dropout rates have declined, attendance has improved, and community attitudes toward gender equality are shifting.

For Janerose Mutama, leadership is not about status but service. Her quiet revolution built on dignity, inclusion, and compassion is changing not only schools but the very fabric of Trans Nzoia society.

As FIDA’s recognition shows, Mutama’s approach could serve as a blueprint for counties across Kenya: leadership that listens, cares, and delivers — one child at a time.