Many women in Central and South Rift failed to clinch party tickets in the recent party primaries.
This means county governments may not meet the two-thirds gender rule in the composition of county assemblies after major political parties failed to ensure that women won tickets for ward representative seats.
In Kericho, Laikipia, and Narok counties, not a single woman won a member of the county assembly ticket in the Jubilee Party (JP) primaries.
According to an analysis carried out by The Standard, the JP nominations in Nakuru County produced only three women out of the hundreds who contested.
Jane Ngugi who represented Gilgil ward in the inaugural assembly, clinched the ticket while Rose Chepkoech floored six men to win the party ticket for Kiptagich ward.
Lucky woman
Another lucky woman was Irene Chebichi, a nominated MCA.
She won the ticket to contest the Soin ward seat.
In Bomet, Chama Cha Mashinani gave direct nomination to Aurelia Rono to face off with Jubilee’s nominee, Chesan Aruwasa.
Leah Kirui also won to contest the Mutarakwa ward seat.
In Baringo, two women clinched the Jubilee Party ticket to contest for the MCA seat.
Jennifer Kabon won the party ticket to vie for the Kapropita ward while Bernice Chepkemoi Lorangi won nomination for the Loyamorok ward seat in Tiyati constituency.
In Nyandarua, Wairimu wa Njane won the party ticket to represent JP in the race for Charagita ward.
Gender experts said it would be challenging for counties to implement the gender rules, especially in House committees.
“Many of the counties will find it hard to meet the gender threshold, as provided for in the Constitution,” said Catherine Waweru, a gender activist.
