Teimumu Kepa facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Honourable Ro Teimumu Kepa MP
Leader of the Opposition
In office 6 October 2014 – 20 November 2018
Prime Minister	Frank Bainimarama
Preceded by	Mick Beddoes (2006)
Succeeded by	Sitiveni Rabuka
Leader of SODELPA
In office March 2014 – 26 June 2016
Preceded by	Tupeni Baba (provisional)
Succeeded by	Sitiveni Rabuka
Minister for Education
In office 2001 – 4 December 2006
Prime Minister	Laisenia Qarase
Preceded by	Nelson Delailomaloma
Minister for Women, Culture, and Social Welfare
In office 28 July 2000 – 2001
Member of the Senate of Fiji
In office 1999–2001
Member of the Fijian Parliament for SODELPA List
In office 17 September 2014 – 14 December 2022
Member of Parliament for Rewa
In office September 2001 – 4 December 2006
Preceded by	Timoci Silatolu
Succeeded by	None (Parliament disestablished)
Personal details
Born	(1945-12-18) 18 December 1945 (age 79) Lomanikoro, Colony of Fiji
Political party	Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua Social Democratic Liberal
Parent	George Tuisawau (father)

Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa (born 18 December 1945) is an important Fijian chief and a former Member of the Parliament of Fiji. She used to be the leader of the Social Democratic Liberal Party. She made history as the first Fijian woman to become the Leader of the Opposition. She also served as Deputy Prime Minister from 2001 to 2006. As a top chief of the Burebasaga Confederacy, she holds the special title Roko Tui Dreketi.

About Teimumu Kepa's Life

Teimumu Kepa comes from a place called Lomanikoro in Rewa. She studied at the University of the South Pacific and earned a degree in Arts. Later, she became the Principal of Corpus Christi College. She also worked as a student coordinator at the University of the South Pacific.

Her Role as a Chief

In 2004, she became the Roko Tui Dreketi. This happened after her sister, Ro Lady Lala Mara, passed away. The Roko Tui Dreketi is the highest title in the Burebasaga Confederacy. This confederacy is one of three main groups of Fijian chiefs.

Her Family Life

Ro Teimumu Kepa was married to Sailosi Kepa. He was also a very important person in Fiji. He served as a High Commissioner to London, a Minister of Justice, and the Attorney General. Later, he became a High Court Judge, an Ombudsman, and the first head of Fiji's Human Rights Commission.

Teimumu Kepa's Political Journey

Teimumu Kepa's political career began in 1999 when she was appointed to the Senate. After a big event in Fiji in 2000, she was chosen to be the Minister for Women, Culture, and Social Welfare.

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In the 2001 election, she ran for a seat in Parliament for the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party. She won the Rewa area with many votes. After this election, she was given the job of Minister for Education.

Leadership in Rewa Province

In 2005, Teimumu Kepa was elected as the chairperson of the Rewa Provincial Council. Her sister had held this position before her. There were some questions about whether she could hold both this role and her Parliament seat. So, she decided to step down from the council in August 2005.

International Role at UNESCO

In October 2005, Teimumu Kepa was elected to the executive board of UNESCO. This is a big international organization that works on education, science, and culture. The Fijian government had suggested her for this important role.

Re-election and Challenges

She ran for election again in 2006 and won her seat for Rewa. She was again made the Minister for Education, Youth, and Sports. However, later that year, the government was removed from power. Teimumu Kepa spoke out against this change. She also used her position in the Great Council of Chiefs to oppose it.

She faced challenges for speaking out against the new government. In 2009, she was arrested for planning to host a church conference that the government had banned. The charges were later dropped. In 2011, the Rewa Provincial Council was suspended, which was another attempt to stop her from speaking out.

Leading a Political Party

In March 2014, Teimumu Kepa was chosen to be the leader of a new political party called the Social Democratic Liberal Party. She led the party into the 2014 election. Her party won 15 seats in Parliament. She herself received a very high number of votes. On 6 October 2014, she was appointed the Leader of the Opposition.

In June 2016, Teimumu Kepa announced that she was stepping down as the leader of SODELPA. Sitiveni Rabuka, a former Prime Minister, took over her role. She was re-elected to Parliament in the 2018 elections. She received the second-highest number of votes among all female candidates.

2021 Fijian Presidential Election

On 22 October 2021, Teimumu Kepa was put forward as the SODELPA party's candidate for the position of president of Fiji. She received support from 23 Members of Parliament. However, she was not elected. The government's candidate, Wiliame Katonivere, won the election. If she had been elected, Teimumu Kepa would have been the first woman to be the president of Fiji.