Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina had Kenyans talking after photos of her walking barefoot through a rugged village path went viral, leopard-print heels in one hand and a black handbag in the other.
The images, taken during a home visit in a rural part of Kirinyaga county, show the MP in a fitted blue blazer and matching midi skirt, pearl necklace and red lipstick, picking her way carefully along a rocky, uneven dirt track flanked by dense green vegetation.
Her red toenail polish was clearly visible in the close-up shots.
Njeri explained on social media that the whole thing started with what seemed like a sensible suggestion. Fellow legislator David Mathenge persuaded her that a five-minute walk through the farms would be faster than the ten-minute drive to their destination. She agreed, and the journey turned out to be considerably more demanding than advertised.
The return journey was where things got decisive. Njeri, by her own admission stubborn about finishing what she starts, had earlier refused an offer to fetch her flat shoes from the car.
With the footpath too narrow for the driver to reach her, she was left with one choice. Off came the shoes.
She walked back the same route barefoot, shrugging off the concern of those around her and noting that going without shoes on rough ground was something she spent much of her childhood doing.
At the end of the trail, she sorted herself out, put the heels back on, and headed to one final home visit.
