HER STORY WINS CANDIDATE PHOTO STORY Ms. Susan Mang’eni Candidate for Senate Busia County, Kenya Photo Story by Ellie Van Houtte www.ellievanhoutte.com www.ellievanhouttephoto.com This is a photo story of the Her Story Wins Project---a visual documentary of Kenyan women political candidates in 2012. Ellie spent six weeks during the fall of 2011 interviewing and documenting women candidates and their community work. She hopes to return to Kenya to continue following the women as their candidacies progress towards the 2012 elections. You can learn more about Her Story Wins at www.herstorywins.com. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

1. Susan Mang’eni
Candidate for Senate
Busia County, Kenya
Photo Story by Ellie Van Houtte
This is a photo story of the Her Story Wins Project---
a visual documentary of Kenyan women political candidates in
2012. Ellie spent six weeks during the fall of 2011
interviewing and documenting women candidates and their
community work. She hopes to return to Kenya to continue
following the women as their candidacies progress towards
the 2012 elections. You can learn more about Her Story Wins
at www.herstorywins.com.
© Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

2. Busia County
About Busia County:
Located in the Western province of Kenya,
Busia County hosts two major crossing points
to and from Uganda, and serves as a major
transit route for goods to Nairobi (431 km
West of Busia Town) and across Kenya.
About Susan’s Visit:
During my two day visit shadowing Susan in LAKE
Busia County as a community leader and VICTORIA
candidate for Senate in 2012, I witnessed her
strength as a confident, yet responsive leader. NAIROBI
With her campaign team in tow, we travelled
across her district for campaign engagement
opportunities that ranged from a Sunday
morning sermon during the weekly youth
service at Katoda Kituroi Church in Chakol
Parish of the St. Monica Chakol Girls High
school that she attended, to field visits to
youth agriculture and small-business projects
(as diverse as rocket stoves and theater arts),
and even impromptu information gathering
conversations with fishermen in Port Victoria.

3. Parishners leave an early-morning service at Katoda Kituroi Church at Chakol Parish. The Catholic church has © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
great reach and influence in Busia County, and Susan spent almost a full morning greeting the congregation at the
church of her childhood school.

4. Before entering the church, Susan meets with Father Fred to announce her intentions for running for Senate in © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
2012, as well as to receive his blessing to address the congregation.

5. Father Fred announces Susan and her colleagues to the congregation after the service has concluded. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

6. Even though it is a large congregation, announcements are made through a simple bullhorn microphone. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

7. Susan looks up to Father Fred---who plays significant public leadership role in Busia County. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

8. Susan energizes the congregation with her
youthfulness as she talks about her
childhood memories and why she is running
for office.
© Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

9. A church parishner greets Susan. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

10. Susan holds the hand of her primary school
teacher after the church service.
© Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

11. After several shorcuts across unpaved dirt roads, Susan arrives for a visit to an agriculture project that is funded © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
by the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, an organization that she directs.

12. Accessing remote agricultural projects, requires long treks by foot, as seen in the photo above. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

13. A grantee of Youth Enterprise Development
Fund money shows Susan the progress of
his vegetable crops. Unfortunately, the
plants were punctuated by holes from the
hail storm that recently swept through the
area.
© Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

14. A candidate needs to be professional at all times, and even as we walk through mud and weeds, Susan keeps her © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
dress shoes on.

15. In addition to funding agricultural projects, Susan’s organization funds many small youth business startups, including © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
one that creates and sells no-smoke rocket stoves.

16. Susan inspects the construction of a rocket stove---a small home cooking range that is used as an © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
environmentally-friendly and cost-effective alternative to traditional wood fire cooking.

17. As Susan returns from a project visit, she crosses through a residential neighborhood with her campaign team in © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
tow.

18. Youth watch my movements as Susan sits patiently as a local theater group performs one of its educational © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
outreach programs.

19. The community is entertained and educated by a local theater group that uses art to inform people of issues like © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
HIV/AIDS, relationships, and peaceful conflict resolution.

20. Susan addresses community members and shares opportunities for funding through the Youth Enterprise © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
Development Fund.

21. The community is entertained and educated by a local theater group that uses art to inform people of issues like © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
HIV/AIDS, relationships, and peaceful conflict resolution.

22. Even with a busy schedule of community activities, Susan takes time to stop by her Sister’s home to see her nieces © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
and nephews.

23. Even with a busy schedule of community activities, Susan takes time to stop by her Sister’s home to see her nieces © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
and nephews.

24. Even with a busy schedule of community activities, Susan takes time to stop by her Sister’s home to see her nieces © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
and nephews.

25. As the sun begins to set, Susan stops by the lakeside village of Port Victoria to meet with fisherman who are © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
resting on the shores. Without proper distribution channels and a shutdown processing factory, many local
fisherman are struggling.

26. As the sun begins to set, Susan stops by the lakeside village of Port Victoria to meet with fisherman who are © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
resting on the shores. Without proper distribution channels and a shutdown processing factory, many local
fisherman are struggling.

27. Susan meets with the Beach Management Officer for Port Victoria. The inadequate human rights for fisherman © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
and lack of economic opportunities were among the many subjects discussed.

28. During a community visit, Susan walks alongside voters of the Budalangi constituency of Busia County. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

29. Susan stops along the side of the road to
talk with voters in Budalangi constituency.
© Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

30. Susan stops along the side of the road to talk with voters in Budalangi constituency. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

31. Susan stops along the side of the road to talk with voters in Budalangi constituency. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

32. As the Western side of Busia County is surrounded by Lake Victoria---the world’s largest freshwater source, © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
fishing and remote island villages are common. In the photo above residents lineup to board boats headed out to
Lake Victoria.

33. The journey to Maduwa Island----a remote island with a population of around 250 people, begins as Susan and her © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
campaign team load into a boat along River Yala.

34. With over 18 passengers and cargo, a small wooden boat propelled by a single engine speeds away from a port © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
along River Yala and towards Lake Victoria and the end destination of Maduwa Island.

35. A fisherman rows his boat back to shore
along River Yala after spending the morning
fishing on Lake Victoria.
© Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

36. Our boat stops by a small island to pick-up several students who are on their way to Maduwa Island for classes. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

37. A local women washes a fresh catch of fish in the Lake during her daily routine on one of Busia County’s remote © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
islands.

38. Wooden boats line the beach of a local island as daily activities continue. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

39. Text
During phases of our journey to Maduwa Island, passengers were asked to evacuate the boat as the waterways © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
were two narrow and shallow for navigating a full boat.

40. Susan sits with the few lucky passengers
who were allowed to remain in our boat
before navigating the rest of the way along
shallow waterways off of lake victoria to
Maduwa Island.
© Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

41. After unloading the first boat, passengers take their shoes off and roll up their pant cuffs in preparation of walking © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
through grassy water to load a second boat.

42. After unloading the first boat, passengers take their shoes off and roll up their pant cuffs in preparation of walking © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
through grassy water to load a second boat.

43. On Maduwa Island, flooding is common, and community residents must frequently wade through water to reach © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
their homes.

44. On the isolated Maduwa Island, students wait on a bench as Susan and her team arrive on the island for a school © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
visit.

45. Students in their uniforms walk towards Susan during her visit to Maduwa Elemenary School. Susan has procured © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
funding for solar panels and solar lamps, tools that have allowed students to study at night. There is no electricity
on the island, and even in the age of mobile phones, communications without power can be a challenge.

46. It is rare for visitors, particularly political candidates, to visit Maduwa Island. As we arrive on the island, the © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
children smile and giggle with joy.

47. Even with funding from NGOs and other organizations, some classrooms on Maduwa Island are in need of © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
tremendous renovation work.

48. Susan meets with school administrators to hear success stories about students attending Maduwa Island, as well © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
as to gain a better understanding of the challenges the youth face.

49. Susan speaks to parents and teachers about the work of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, her 2012 © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
candidacy for Senate, and the creative vision she has for Busia County.

50. Susan speaks to parents and teachers about the work of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund, her 2012 © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
candidacy for Senate, and the creative vision she has for Busia County.

51. A snapshot of life in Busia County as we drive by on our way to our next community stop. © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011

52. A flooded road stops our caravan. Susan’s driver checks the depth of the water to see if it is accessible, as Susan © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
talks to event organizers to find an alternative route.

53. During the last stop of the evening, Susan visits the home of one of Busia County’s most important women © Ellie Van Houtte Photography 2011
leaders. With no electricity, small lamps dimly light the space.