Former Nairobi Women Representative Rachael Shebesh who has been missing in action over the last few months ( Photo Courtesy)
When she is absent from the political scene, you can easily tell. This is how influential and popular Rachael Shebesh, the former Nairobi Women Representative has been in the local political scene since joining the murky world of politics in 2007.
Obviously, when someone of Shebesh's stature goes missing in action, questions will always be asked about her whereabouts.
In 2023, she handed over her office of Chief Adminstrative Secretary, gender to her successor. From there, she opted to retreat to the background.
A popular yet controversial figure, Shebesh made her arrival into the murky world of politics in 2007 when she unsuccessfully ran for the Kasarani MP seat. She lost to the eventual winner, Elizabeth Ongoro during the ODM party nominations.
But she bounced back in style when ODM decided to nominate her to Parliament. And from there, she never looked back.
In 2013, she was elected as the first Nairobi County Women Representative on a TNA party ticket. But five years later, she was ousted by ODM's Esther Passaris in a bitterly contested race.
However, she was given a soft landing by the then President Uhuru Kenyatta who appointed her as a CAS.
In the run up to the 2022 general election, she opted not to run for any elective position even as she threw her weight behind the Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga in his State House bid.
But the takeover of power by President William Ruto marked the end of the road for her in government as she was edged out in new appointments.
Since then, the former fiery legislator has been nowhere to be seen with many people left speculating on her whereabouts.