Paving way for more elected women leaders

The 2017 elections has started gaining mood across our counties and absolutely awakening the interested candidates for a thorough preparation since the recent 2016 by-elections seem to have brought a new perspective of what voters expect of candidates, you would agree with me that Kenyans are more informed than ever before, we now have a generation with free energy and courage to ask questions and track our leaders performance record without fear. Amazing! The new constitution has absolutely contributed to this.

But as a women leadership champion, what still worries me is the number of women coming out to run for the top positions, you won’t find a woman racing for a Senatorial seat at any case, well, maybe next year would bring surprises but there must be surrounding challenges in regard to this and that is why I solidly join other champions to say "We need more women elected and not nominated”.

Nomination is what has seen at least a representation of women be it in the county assembly, parliament or senate and off course once the new constitution came about the position of Women Representative, it boosted the number of women in top political leadership but we fail to realize that by any chance we have potential women leaders showing up, but most are only eyeing the position of women representative, that’s the only race that you won’t find a male candidate.

So let’s start at the primary source, right from the grass root level, our women don’t have a grasp of the key roles and responsibilities of the seat they want to go for, which calls for a thorough grass root civic education if we need more women in leadership, second, is the societal cultivated intimidation, we live in a patriarchal society where there seems to be an assumption that some seats are meant for the male fraternity but it's time we thrive through this.

Our women should learn the benefits of active political engagement, have a grasp of voter rights and responsibilities, maintaining personal integrity in elections and after elections, community action, protocols and knowing their participation strengthens their influence on issues women face and the inequalities our country still struggle and invest so much in trying to curb them.

Advancing women leadership is one way of contributing to our continent's growth, having a gender responsive leadership directly has an impact on our economic growth, women are very interesting beings, with the will to do things, with the will to transform things but they only need a little push and mentorship.

We cannot continue living in an era where women leadership only refers to the likes of Hillary Clinton. Election is a one day event and game changing starts with ourselves overcoming our fears and assumptions. We need more women elected and not nominated, we can only overcome the inequalities if we as voters also take part in it, listen to a Woman racing for a gubernatorial seat as a candidate selling her agenda for the people and not as a woman, I so look forward to an emerging generation of a gender responsive leadership, made of youths, women and men, that’s the only way we can boost our economic and democratic growth.

For the women, change also counts on you, having the will to try political leadership? Go for it, better try and count, we need action, civil societies have invested so much in affirmative action but we need women taking action and running for this top seats.

Remember, if you want a certain future, go out and create it. Conquer your fears as that is what enslaves most of us!!

Blogger: Winny Chepkemoi:   http://winnychepkemoi.com/