Mombasa:Political parties have been urged to conduct free, fair, and credible nominations to ensure equal opportunities for women, youth, and persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the upcoming 2027 General Election.
According to Kenya News Agency, this call was made during an engagement organized by UK International Development, FIDA-Kenya, and the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA). The event brought together representatives from women, youth, and PWD leagues of various political parties to discuss gender-responsive nomination rules.
The engagement aimed to review existing electoral and nomination rules, identify limitations on women’s participation, and promote measures for more inclusive nominations while ensuring safer political participation. Discussions also focused on addressing sexual harassment in politics and generating recommendations to strengthen gender-responsive nomination processes within political parties.
FIDA-Kenya Executive Director Sophie Kaibiria highlighted the crucial role political parties play in determining access to political leadership through their internal structures and nomination processes. She emphasized that gender-responsive party rules and practices significantly influence women’s opportunities to participate in politics and compete for elective positions.
Christabella Barasa, an ELGIA official, noted that the three-year program, supported by the British High Commission, aims to strengthen accountability and political systems in Kenya by advocating for issue-based politics over personality-driven or ethnic-based politics.
Participants of the engagement shared their experiences and proposed practical recommendations to improve nomination processes. Millicent Odhiambo, Wiper Patriotic Front Mombasa Coordinator, stressed the importance of the engagement, noting that many women, youth, and PWDs are excluded from party primaries, limiting their chances to contest elective positions.
Ms. Beatrice Gambo, Jubilee Party Deputy Leader and a parliamentary aspirant, echoed the sentiments for inclusive nominations and pledged to advocate for changes within her party to ensure credible nomination processes. She urged all political parties not to exploit parties as businesses but to facilitate genuine opportunities for women, youth, and PWDs to vie for positions.
