Part II

In the previous post, I mentioned that some Kuwaitis are masters of wit and satire and they lose no time in creating jokes or in making fun of parliamentary candidates. Sometimes we judge candidates just from their campaign photos or from what other people say about them. And inevitably we form unbalanced opinions.

One of those female candidates that I found were misrepresented by some people around me was Rola Dashti.

I was impressed by Rola Dashti’s campaign rally in Jabriya. I liked the way she gave an uplifting pep talk, how she outlined her campaign, how she spoke to the audience, and how in her speech she told us of how she had been out there, amongst the people in the co-ops, reaching out and asking about their problems and their needs from the upcoming parliament. It was a pretty smart speech.

Her manner was easy and assertive; meaning she did not come across as an aggressive feminist but as a person who cares and who has built up a long CV of accomplishments and accolades.

She was very elegant with her hair swept back in a professional look, lightly made up with fresh pink lipstick that enhanced her smart pink jacket. Her look was feminine and professional.

Her effort to speak more of a Kuwaiti dialect was obvious and appreciated. In fact, her enthusiasm was so infectious that I really overlooked her dialect which to me is her main problem with constituencies.

She spoke with ease and maintained eye contact and her speech was flowing, meaning she did not read off of a paper the whole time. This is very important. I came away from her rally with a very positive feeling and impressed with the way in which Rola has developed.

I noted that there were more hijabs and abaya-clad women at her rally than at some of the other ones I had attended and which I will relay in future posts. However, at this rally, I felt the way all factions in society were embraced and there was a genuine feeling that the candidate and her guest speakers were speaking to all Kuwaitis and addressing their issues.

I must mention what happened at the very end of the rally.

When the microphone was handed around the audience, a woman dressed in abaya and niqab (face veil) spoke and made some comments.

Rola then introduced this woman as Zakiya Thuwaini from Jahra ( a more conservative area of Kuwait). Zakiya, she told us was the first Kuwaiti female nurse in Jahra. She was the first woman to drive in Jahra. And…

she was the first woman to run for elections in the Jahra Co-operative Society (and anywhere else in Kuwait for that matter!)

Rola said that Zakiya did not win but she gained over 500 votes for herself which is more votes than some coalitions got in the Co-Op elections.

Bravo Zakiya.

Photo from AlQabas