Turkana Woman Representative Cecilia Ng’itit Ishuu has earned international recognition after becoming the first Kenyan parliamentarian to win the prestigious International Women Parliament Iconic Women Award in the Women Empowerment category.
Ng’itit received the award during the third International Women Parliament and Iconic Women Awards 2026, held at the Radisson Blu Water Garden in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
The ceremony, organised by Arena for Global Engagement Limited, brought together parliamentarians, leaders, changemakers and other influential personalities from different parts of the world.
Her latest achievement adds to an impressive list of accolades she has received this year, following recognition at both national and continental levels.
Cecilia Ng’itit Ishuu journey to the global stage
Before her international recognition, Ng’itit won the Best Female MP in Africa award at the Thamani Africa Awards.
She also received the Best Performing Woman Representative in Kenya accolade at the Bobea Leadership Awards, making the Bangladesh recognition another major milestone in her political career.
However, her journey to international acclaim has been anything but easy. Born in Loima, Turkana County, Ng’itit grew up in extreme poverty.
Her father briefly worked as an agricultural extension officer, while her mother had never attended school. As a child, she worked in other people’s homes in exchange for food, while her mother earned a living as a school cook, receiving maize, beans and flour instead of a salary.
Her family’s financial struggles were so severe that they could not afford her KCPE registration fee. She eventually presented a goat donated by her uncle to her headteacher as payment.
