Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nominated former Sol Generation artist Crystal Asige to the Senate on Wednesday.
In a nomination list published by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) the singer has been put forward to represent persons living with disability.
Asige, who is a former member of the Sol Generation, has been nominated to the senate alongside her male counterpart Kakiri Ochieng.
Crystal rose to fame as the first female on the premium label, sol Generation.
She later fell out with Sauti Sol back in 2019 under unclear circumstances.
“I wasn’t gonna sit there and just take what’s being given. As much as I’m a ‘disabled’ artiste, I work hard, and I earn everything. I manifest everything,” Asige said in a previous interview with Standard.
Starehe Mp Charles Njagua ‘Jaguar’ has also been nominated to National Assembly under the United Democratic Alliance ( UDA) party.
In April 2022, during the party primaries, he suffered a major blow after his rival was handed a UDA ticket for the Starehe Parliamentary seat.
Njagua was contesting against East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Simon Mbugua.
Crystal was diagnosed with a degenerative eye disease as a teenager.
Crystal’s condition has taught her how to live by faith – not by sight, be fearless and stay humble all at once.
In a past interview with Daily Nation, Crystal said:
“If you meet someone who is different from you, physically or otherwise, don’t be fooled because they probably are doing much better than you would think. Don’t pity or discriminate them. Choose to love them instead.”
Music became her tool of expression and healing but most important challenges her to break through human-made barriers and stereotypes which she shares candidly at speaking engagements.
“When I flip them over, challenges become opportunities. I can no longer see at night – so the (electricity) bill is less. I can no longer drive so I am never the designated driver.
I can no longer read print so I relax as someone kindly volunteers to be my audio book. I can no longer see past the first row at a gig so stage fright is but a memory."
Adding
"At the end of the day, I am OK with the things that I can’t do because there’s so much that I can do. You just have to be creative, and that goes for anyone in any situation, really. I have glaucoma, but glaucoma doesn’t have me,” she says.
Crystal’s 2014 EP titled ‘Karibia’ did very well in introducing her to the world and showcasing her fresh approach at Kenyan music.
