As of today, Inviolata Mmbwavi is officially a candidate for Lurambi constituency for the March 4th elections in Kenya. As one of the country’s most outspoken women AIDS activists, she hopes to make history by winning the support of her rural home area after making her home in the capital for all of her adult life.

When she was first diagnosed with HIV at age 19, Mmbwavi felt ostracized and discriminated against at home; it took her moving to Nairobi to find her voice and join forces with other HIV activists to battle the stigma.

Besides her AIDS activism, however, she is  inspired to run for office to ensure that the progressive women and minority rights enshrined in Kenya’s new 2010 constitution will be upheld. Women are guaranteed 1/3 representation in parliament – and like her, many women’s rights activists are gearing up for the outcome of the election and how that quota will be dealt with.

I photographed Mmbwavi last October, when she was in New York to meet supporters.  Read Andy Kopsa’s article to find out more about her. You can find her facebook group (and fundraiser) here.