The lady Shikanda loves to hate in the race to battle it out for Secretary General  A.F.C. Leopards:-Sitawa Renee.

Mention the name Sitawa Renee to any Ingwe gathering and heads will turn both in admiration, fear and hate. All these done simultaneously in respect to one lady who for the past decade, has never shied away from speaking truth to power.

Irine Sitawa or simply Sitawa Renee is a staunch AFC Leopards supporter who is also part and parcel of what is at times referred to as the new AFC Leopards.

When Ingwe was relegated, most of it’s loyal fans were heart broken and kept off. It took the brilliance of a few guys like Dr Antony Walela, Fred Lutta, Archie Achilla,Arthur Afwayi just to mention but a few to mobilize fans back to Ingwe matches in 2009/2010 season.

This mobilization gave birth to a clique of young ladies who were either in college or fresh from college , well read, independent and intelligent ready to support AFC Leopards. This fanaticism Led them into forming an all ladies  group that later came to be known as Ingwelets.

I.N.G.W.E.L.E.T.S.
This group was not only loyal but innovative in the way they cheered and marketed Ingwe besides getting involved in the day to day affairs of the club.

During the 2011 elections, for the first time the group had one of their own contesting for a position at the NEC. Millie Max  vied got the support and won.

This boosted their confidence and in the subsequent elections several ladies threw their hats into the ring. Esther Luvembe vied for the position of club deputy treasurer in 2013 election serving under Kasavuli in what came to be known as Kasaladwa regime. In the 2016 elections, Irene Karani another pioneer Ingwelet from Coast vied and the members deemed it fit to give her the honour of serving the club as  a NEC member under the Chairmanship of Dan Mule.

The ladies took a brief break during the Shikanda regime and now Irine Sitawa has plunged into the murky waters that have defined Ingwe politics.

Is straight shooting Renee upto the task?
This is one question that Ingwe members will be answering on the ballot. Renee is eloquent and unapologetically bold when it comes to articulating Ingwe matters. This boldness merged with the gift of the garb has seen her rub authorities the wrong way something that saw her become a guest of the state allegedly for hammering Dr Dan Shikanda like pounded foofoo yams served with bitter leaves soup. After  brief investigation, she was set free but this did not dumpen   her resolve of  keeping the Shikanda led NeC on toes.

“Many people call me an irritant which I don’t mind. We have been kept in circles by not only the outgoing regime but also previous regimes that exhibited ineptitude and inability to conjure a winning formular to help Ingwe return to it’s winning glory. I have been in the trenches long enough to understand what our members and fans want. A moment has come where calling out the leadership from outside is no longer tenable for me, I have offered myself for the position of club SG and watch this space, real change is here now” asserted Sitawa.

When asked about her radical and extreme positions on several club matters, Renee remains unapologetic.

“Many people have branded me a radical which I don’t really understand. If asking for accountability and deliverables from those tasked with serving the club is radicalism then that is a badge I will gladly  don with honor” added Sitawa.

What is she bringing on-board?

“I bring a paradigm shift in how our club is managed.Under my leadership I will ensure the club runs in a professional manner by putting up sound structures, ensuring efficiency in communication and making our club attractive to more than one sponsor to help us sort the perennial cash flow issues. I have been involved both with our senior team and our ladies team and I have first hand information on what is ailing our club. Here comes the solution, a vote for me as SG is a vote for success” Sitawa.

Sitawa’s candidature has excited several Ingwe female supporters who have flooded social media drumming up support for her.

“Sitawa is an embodiment of resilience, intelligence and sober leadership. We present to Ingwe a no nonsense leader who is ready to usher in a new order where strict adherence to our constitution and  transparency will reign supreme” Halima Hanii former Ingwelets president

With arch-rivals Gor Mahia voting in Sally Bollo as SG, their counterparts at Ingwe can only dare to dream.

For Irene Sitawa to actualize her dream, she will fight it out against an all male field led by Asava Kadima, Robert Situma, Isaac Mulindi, Dennis Njeka and Wycliffe Nyamu.

Is this lady that Shikanda loves to hate the key to Ingwe’s trophy drought?

This is a question only Ingwe members can answer.

Story by Nancy Amagove Nairobi.
Email:nancymavs26@gmail.com