Nairobi: Elgeyo Marakwet Deputy Governor (DG), Prof. Grace Cheserek, has called on non-governmental organizations dealing with women empowerment to step up sensitization and capacity-building programmes for women entering the political field ahead of next year’s general election amid growing frustrations over systemic marginalization and tokenism.
According to Kenya News Agency, the DG emphasized that women seeking elective office need training to navigate the increasingly hostile political landscape and learn how to structure, refine, and effectively communicate their political agendas to voters. She spoke during the launch of the ‘Moving Commitments to Action’ Enhancing Accountability in the Women, Peace and Security Agenda by the Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL) in collaboration with Act Change Transformation (ACT!), which will be undertaken in Endo Ward of Kerio Valley Sub-county.
The DG further stressed the need for women to be equipped with strategies to tackle cyberbullying, including online harassment, targeted abuse, and disinformation during campaigns. She highlighted the importance of preparing women to manage physical security risks and safety concerns while on the campaign trail.
A baseline survey presented by Sanda Jumba from ACT! revealed that women leaders are raising an alarm over tokenistic representation. Although constitutional provisions like the two-thirds gender rule exist, many women feel their presence is merely treated as a compliance exercise rather than genuine inclusion. The survey indicated that women reported being denied opportunities to speak at organizations where they are members, and their contributions are often omitted from official records.
The survey also claimed that while women hold executive positions in various committees, they feel relegated to passive roles, unable to set agendas or make decisions, which stifles their influence in governance. Ms. Jumba urged the electorate to vote for women with the vision and capacity to articulate community issues, suggesting that only then can they earn their place in other elective seats.
She pointed out that the longstanding focus on the issuance of sanitary towels as a major agenda for women representatives might shift if women are empowered to provide for themselves. The demand is now for a move from symbolic representation on paper to actual implementation, enabling women to sit at decision-making tables with equal authority, influence, and voice.
Winnie Kanda, the governor’s advisor on gender affairs, encouraged women to be bold enough to seek other elective seats besides the designated women representative positions. Joseph Amuke, the County Director for Gender, urged the County Government to enact a Gender Policy to influence budgeting, noting that reliance on donor funding is unsustainable when donors withdraw support.
