Women blame culture for failure to win elections

Mombasa, Kenya: Women leaders from the six counties in Coast region now claim the local culture is curtailing their progression in politics.

They say the traditions incite women voters to reject female candidates during elections.

Speaking during a women's conference convened in Mombasa yesterday, the women leaders, however, said they will try to overcome this problem through civic education in order to convince more women to seek elective posts at the next polls.

Mombasa County Woman Representative Mishi Mboko said women leaders will ensure that at least two women in each county seek elective positions, besides the woman representative positions.

"Coast region has only one female MP, Naomi Shaban (Taveta), and three MCAs out of 30 elected leaders," said Ms Mboko.

The MP said women make over 50 per cent in population but still find it hard to make it to political offices because they never support their own when it is necessary.

Mboko said the current women leaders intend to increase the number of registered voters, especially women, by 20 per cent for the 2017 General Election.

The woman rep urged her fellow women to change their mindset and start getting involved in political and development issues rather than riding behind men all the time.

Kenya Women's Group Chief Executive Officer Jennifer Riria said the war was already on for the 2017 elections, and they were laying strategies on how to win major political positions.

"If you fail to plan as a woman then someone will plan for you and it will be for their own good. Therefore we should fight hard against discrimination of girls' right to education," said Riria.

Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mombasa Vice Chairperson Rukia Rashid said women need to learn and understand their rights and leadership in order to sharpen skills for political and social mobility.