The secret in women political

 Secret behind political nomination awards  locking out women in politics.

story by Caroline Kwale 

With her shy demeanor and disarming smile, Hawaa Abdul Salim is the type of person you will likely never see

 angry no matter the circumstances.

We spoke about her dream to become a politician in 2017 in Ukunda ward, south coast of Kenya.

       The mother of two recounted how tribalism and failure to offer her body  shuttered her dream during

 party nomination awards .

As we progressed with the conversation a more somber ,reflective tone took over ,every step back into

 the past stirred embers of deep seated anger in the now serious looking Hawaa .

       “At that time I didn’t think that  women have  to give in to men to be awarded party nomination 

,”She told me .

That was my first time in politics ,I was not that strong ,being the only woman out of six candidates 

 chasing the  Jubilee party nomination .

Hawaa represents few  Kenyan female politicians  who are firm ,respecting their gender .

         The game of sex in politic is not mentioned  despite being used as a tool to pull down  female in politics .

“I narrowly escaped the trap ,for my husband stood by my side during my campaigns ,” Said Ms.Hawaa.

Generally ,women in Kenya account for 12.18 percent of all candidates and 49.12 percent of all voters numbers

 that are flagged as underrepresentation of women in the political environment despite the little progress

 realized .

So far 11 counties in Kenya have elected women members of the county assembly MCA with Kisumu recording

 the highest number of five MCAs.

       During the  nomination exercise of every election year in Kenya , registrar of political parties register

 big numbers of women  who  want to exercise their democratic right in  politics  but unfortunately despite

 using their resources many women are  locked out .

This happens to many women in politics in Kenya but no one wants to speak out about it, Terming it a willing

 seller willing buyer business , an abuse that is killing women in politics slowly , their dreams and demeaning

 gender .

There is no data detailing this form of abuse or even acknowledging its existence.

 

        Mary  Mlunga Mwachiti a human right defender and peace maker  leading Nawiri Community Based 

Organisation  in Kenya affirmed  bad culture and traditions to deny safe space of women.

“Women  lack the required support from the society , community is yet to embrace women leadership , the

 gender based violence in some parts of Kenya is a deal   organized by community members  and remain un 

reported  due to bad cultural practices , women are not allowed to make decisions in society , how are these 

women  going to succeed and win   political position if the society does not recognize them ,” 

Posed Ms Mwachiti  .

She noted  the  need of   women organizations  to start sensitization forum to the communities  to shade

 light on the importance of women leadership  and end gender based violence against them  .

        “ I want to acknowledge that we women  can bring change to the community and that is why I feel

 it is very

 important  to be involved in decision making tables to realize our potential so as to rescue our society ,” 

Emphasized  Ms Mwachiti .

 

Matuga Deputy  County Commissioner Lucy Ndemo  pointed out  empowerment of women as an important  

force  in countering  this form of abuse urging  women to be strong enough and stand their ground .

“Whoever laughs at you , keep on  fighting  with your  determination because as a woman if you don’t fight for 

your family , for your marriage , for  the society  the evil will prevail    ,fellow ladies   we have a big task ahead of

 us ,” Affirmed  Ms.  Ndemo .

        More  than  45 women who  vied for different  political position  in Kwale county  Coastal region of 

Kenya  in 2022 general election   only two were elected  , Fatuma Achani as the county governor and 

Khanifa Mwajirani member of county assembly Ramisi ward .

Fatuma Achani being the first female Muslim governor  in Kenya  and Khanifa Mwajirani becoming the first 

female elected as MCA in Kwale county assembly  since devolution  governments started in 2013 .

         A clergy bishop Peter Mwero condemned the abuse terming it to be against African values .

“Women have the potential of fight for position without defiling their   rights ,let them do away with the empty 

promises from selfish leaders stand and fight for what is right for you , we have  the responsibility as clerics to

 empower  and enlighten our women  they have equal  opportunities in leadership ,”Noted Mr.Mwero.

Mishi Mayumbe  former Kwale county assembly nominated member affirming sex in politics to be real .

“ Women should not  walk alone in this journey of politics ,collaborate with experienced people   to show you

 the warning signs in politics  ,” Noted Ms.Mayumbe .

Kenya have seven  female governors out of the fourty  seven counties namely  : Susan Kihika  of Nakuru

 county  , 

 Gladys Wanga ,Homa bay county  , Cecily Mbarire  of  Embu county ,Wavinya Ndeti  Machakos  county  , 

Fatuma Achani of Kwale county ,Kawira Mwangaza  ,Meru county  and Anne Waiguru of Kirinyaga County .

 

       However the number of female members of parliament in Kenya has increased in the 2022 elections

 whereby twenty nine women were elected to parliament compared to 2017, where only twenty three women

 made it to parliament.

Three female candidates  made it to senate  : Adan Dulo  Fatuma  of Isiolo County ,Tabitha Karanja Nakuru

 county  and Agnes Kavindu Muthama  Machakos county .

“Would you countenance the idea  of a woman  giving in to politicians  for a leadership position ? 

you have used your resources campaigning for that position ,why should you allow someone to abuse you ,”

 Affirmed James Dawa  a long serving politician in Kenya .

            Mr.Dawa  noted very few women in politics in Kenya stand their ground .

“Men in politics would wish to support women  to succeed in their political journey  but majority of our 

women   don’t   trust themselves  so  they think the easiest way to  win political seats is by sleeping with  party

 leaders  ,so unfortunate ,”Lamented the politician .

“In every election year in Kenya   high   divorce cases  are  recorded  in Southern coast of Kenya ,women are 

good  supporters of male candidates  spending  most of their time campaigning and neglect their marital  

duties  while some campaign without consent of  their husbands ,” Affirmed Amina Msau chairlady of 

Maendeleo ya wanawake .

Kwale county governor Fatuma Achani termed some religions to be a drawback of women success .

“Born  a Muslim  and  according to the Holy Book of Quaran ,i knew that  it’s a taboo for  a woman  to  stand 

before men,  by the time  I  was nominated  as  the first female muslim deputy governor in Kwale county 

in  2013 , my muslim community  did not  want to be associated   with me  because i was  against  Islamic

 religion  and when I announced my bid to vie for gubernatorial  seat in Kwale county my  community  did

 not support the idea even after serving for 10 years as deputy governor for Kwale county  ,infact some  

religious leaders  begged me to step down but  I knew their plan was to shut down  my dream  ,I was black 

mailed by male candidates , received online threats ,Insults were thrown even to my own children ,”

 Noted Ms.Achani.

       Some culture and religions in Africa teach women to be good mothers in society ,in  Kenya such beliefs  

have led many women to suffer silently in the  name of traditions .

Female leadership  is still viewed  by some as an unimpeachable treaty of consent ,In other words women left 

her birth home behind and now belongs to her husband she becomes his property   a Swahili saying 

mwanamume ndio kichwa cha jamii na mke ni shingo meaning women are have less powers in the 

community .

Samia suluhu Hassan a Tanzanian politician who has been serving since 19 march 2021 as the sixth and first

 female president of Tanzania .

         President Samia  a member of the rulling Chama Cha Mapinduzi Party and third female head of 

government of an East African community country inspires the lives of  women in Kenya .

We believe a woman can lead if mentored and supported  “The future is female ” this was her song during her 

 2022 campaigns  until August 9 when she was elected  and changed her tittle to  governor  Fatuma Achani .

         Winnie Hachi  activist in Kenya  pointed the empowerment  of women as an important force in curbing 

abuse among female politician .

“Women in leadership should be role model to other women at grassroot level  so as to make them not  rely on 

men who make them vulnerable because they depend on them  Women must respect their values and be guided

 by principles,” Said Ms.Hachi.

Ms.Hawaa  called upon  women  in politics  to protect their  dignity   appealing   for civic education to  women

 in politics   understand the Dos and Don’ts in politics .

 Mr.James Dawa said men are  ready to support women leadership because  lack of women leadership

 has affected women development , women agenda in assemblies are not taken serious due to lack of female

 voices to support  the agenda  .

       He also  appealed to Party leaders to  nominate potential leaders  when it comes to gender top up 

instead of giving favors to women who are not qualified ,currently we have elected female in kwale county

 assembly whom we fully support to succeed the women agenda ,She is not the best but  we made her our 

majority leader  so as to be a role model  to other women at the grassroot level.

A political analyst in coastal region of Kenya Simon Matendechere  remarked  confirmed  the new 

constitution  promulgated in 2010 and visioned equal gender representation through the two  third gender 

rule  giving the vulnerable groups recognition ,it is high time for women in politics to change their mindset and 

fight for what is right for them

       “Kenya being an African country riddled chauvism there has not political good will to implement the 

two third gender rule . women forms upto 55 percent of Kenyan population yet they have 12.18  percent 

representation in elective politics  meanwhile Rwanda has 51 percent women  representation in elective post 

having the highest economic growth rate in the African continent for the last 10 years ,”Said Mr.Matendechere .

The constitution of Kenya 2010 provides for equality and freedom from discrimination for all persons 

including guaranteeing the equal enjoyment of rights  ,civil ,political ,economic ,social -cultural rights and group 

of rights .

       Article 38  of the constitution of Kenya 2010 provides for the political rights of every Kenyan including the 

right for every citizen to make political choices ,the right to free ,fair elections based on universal suffrage and 

the free expression of the will of the electors right to vote by secret ballot ,the right to be a candidate for 

public office or office within a political party of which the citizen is a member and the right if elected to hold 

office .

The principles of equality  freedom from discrimination and inclusion are fundamental requirements that cut 

across the various articles of the constitution of Kenya 2010 national laws and related policies and administrative

  regulations .

      The overall mandate of the national gender and equality commission is to promote gender equality and

 freedom from discrimination  for all persons in Kenya with a focus on special interest group including women.

“It is time to advocate for change sometimes it is our silence that kills us as women”

This article is part of  ,African women in media ,young women in politics ,luminate and women journalism 

program .

 

ReplyForward