Shakila Abdalla may very well be Kenya’s Hillary Clinton.

Though not the only female politician there, Abdalla hails from the primarily Muslim region of East Lamu, a fact, she admits, that made her Parliamentary run this year even more incredible: "To many people it had come as a shock. But someone had to break through the glass ceiling." Abdalla’s never been one to shy away from a challenge, nor has she ever considered taking a backseat role simply because she’s a woman.

Despite the fact that many in her Muslim community disapproved, this groundbreaking gal earned her degree in management and went on to get her professional start in Kenya’s hotel industry, before seizing the moment and launching her electoral bid, something she says was about time: "Times are changing and there is nothing in my religion that stops women from either doing business or taking part in politics."

Abdalla didn’t win her election bid, a loss she pins at least in part on her nation’s sexism, but she has since been nominated by Kenya’s Orange Democratic Movement of Kenya to take one of their seats. She’s now one of 22 women who help make up the 222-seat Parliament, which gives women only 10% of the governing body. Women, meanwhile, make up 52% of Kenya’s population, so obviously there’s still more work to be done.

Change comes in steps, Abdalla says, and that’s why she intends to start small. First, she says, she hopes to bring women the right to own land. Remarked Abdalla on her cause, "Having seen them live in poor conditions since I’ve opened my eyes, I wanted to bring a change in their lives and the best way to do it is through Parliament which provides a forum for legislation and a position of power to influence policymaking." Though that move would require constitutional change — and no doubt a series of debates — Abdalla’s already had an impact on the treatment of women in Kenya. For years, Parliament forbade politicians — including women — from carrying handbags. Galvanized by the apparent — and idiotic — rule, Abdalla fought hard for her right to bear bags. And she won.

Sure, a purse may not be the biggest political victory, but if Abdalla can keep breaking down those barriers, perhaps Kenya can get on the fast track to equal rights for women.