Time for pastoralists to ignore culture and elect women

Samburu women making beadwork that creates opportunities for pastoralist women in northern Kenya to translate their traditional skills into much-needed income at Kalama Community conservancy in Samburu county on May 10, 2022. [David Gichuru, Standard]

In 2021, the USA got its first female deputy president, Ms Kamala Harris, over 200 years after the first president was elected in 1789. Kenya might achieve a similar fete after tomorrow's election as three of the presidential candidates have chosen women as their deputies. I that the elections will boost acceptance of the female leadership and Kenya's goal of gender equity.

In my recent doctorate thesis, which was a case study of my home county of Wajir, on the communication dynamics for women participating in competitive politics, I note that although the population of women and men in Kenya is almost equal, political representation is heavily skewed in favour of men.