Why I am running for political office

I am excited to announce my candidacy for Member of Parliament in Kitchener Centre in the upcoming election. Several years ago, a personal experience at St. Mary’s General Hospital in Kitchener had a profound impact on my decision. After a successful hour-long operation, I asked my surgeon what the cost of the operation would have been if I paid out-of-pocket. He told me it would have been a small fortune that, in some parts of the world, can mean the difference between life and death based on income. But in Canada, he emphasized, we are lucky to have publicly funded healthcare, but we have a sacred obligation to ensure everyone has access to quality care, regardless of income.

Fast forward to today, and I am alarmed to see accessible healthcare, affordable diabetes treatment, medication, and childcare under threat from politicians prioritizing corporate interests over people’s needs. That’s why I am running for office – to fight for working families, seniors, and our youth. I believe that together, we can make a difference and win.

I invite you to join me in this fight by registering as a Liberal voter and volunteering with our campaign. Visit our Join the Campaign page to get involved and help energize our base in Kitchener Centre. Together, let’s work towards a more equitable and prosperous future for our community.

My experience

With over a decade’s worth of experience, I am a seasoned policy advisor, manager, and team leader dedicated to improving the lives of ordinary people. I first moved to Kitchener from Ottawa in 2005 to work as a summer reporter at The Record newspaper. Five years later, I returned to work at a local think tank as a project and publications coordinator. Ever since, my family and I have built strong roots in the community. 

I am passionate about community service. I am an active volunteer in my community and with the local federal and provincial Liberal Electoral District Associations. My interest in improving human rights has seen me volunteer for Group 9, the local Amnesty International Chapter of Waterloo Region. My professional background includes:

  • Deputy director of policy at a policy organization based out of Washington, DC, where I helped investigate corruption and state capture by high-level officials and identifying accountability measures.
  • Deputy chief of party (equivalent of deputy director) for an international non-profit organization, helping manage $1 million (US) of funds per year and supervising a team of 23.
  • Journalist in Ottawa for two news publications, where among other reporting duties, I covered committees in the House of Commons, the Senate, and the Canadian Radio-Television Commission (CRTC).

I hold degrees in journalism from Carleton University, the University of King’s College, and Daystar University in Kenya (communication). Widely published, I have been interviewed by major networks like BBC, CNN International, Voice of America, Aljazeera, PBS Newshour and NPR, and quoted in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Washington Post.