The day of days has finally arrived. Citizens rose up and early to go to the polling stations to declare their who they want as their leaders. Although the outcome will be unclear until tomorrow, there is still some speculation on what this could mean for all citizens. What if your leader does is not elected? How will the next 5 years change you and your family? Yes, the whole country is at stake but who stops to think what this will mean for our mothers, sisters and the women working hard in the background to hold up our country?

 

This is what the elections could mean for women:

Kenya elections: intimidation and violence against women: #sallyjsara https://t.co/jI73czJbPD

— Lyn (@tixpix16) August 8, 2017

.@wanjirukihusa had this to say as well: https://t.co/r1X0YsxZ9f#OurVoicesKe

— Kasi Mumba ? ???????? (@RizzBee) August 7, 2017

Read @tamerra_nikol first story from Kenya: on what women candidates are going through in the lead up to elections https://t.co/4EgFqYiRCz

— Miriam Elder (@MiriamElder) July 15, 2017

Women candidates are discriminated and discouraged. Having female leaders will empower young girls and they will have accomplished role models to look up to. 

Mothers to young children may be especially affected

1000s of women will not vote because they don't have someone to leave there children with #Votersbabysitter during #ElectionsKE @IEBCKenya

— MToto News (@MTotoNews) August 3, 2017

Women hold immense political power, but are vastly underestimated and looked down upon by their male counterparts 

2. Yes, more women than men register to vote in elections in Kenya but many women voters in Kenya have restricted agency in voting.

— Nanjala Nyabola (@Nanjala1) May 6, 2016

Vote women 2017 #electionske Maybe enough of them in the Parliament will address and adequately resolve the nurses strike, of which Day 64

— when i leave (@Quvale) August 7, 2017

The choice is yours. Kenyans hold their own country in their own hands, and women ought to be respected as human beings and citizens with democratic rights. Be the change you want to see in the world. 

readerslounge