In Kisii, women politicians still face challenge beating patriarchal mindset

Despite Gusii producing some of the leading lights in the fight for women's empowerment in the country's history, the region has never elected any female candidate to Parliament -save for Woman Rep. The likes of Clare Omanga, Catherine Nyamato and Wilkster Onsando are household names in Kenya when it comes to the quest for gender equality but had to settle for nominated seats in either the National Assembly or the local authorities. Omanga, the widow of former Cabinet minister Andrew Omanga, was nominated as a councillor in the Kisii Municipal Council 1993 after the first multiparty elections and went on to become the first mayor in the municipality's history. She has, however, since retreated to farming, rearing fish and pigs at her rural home in Kisii. With the Gusii still a deeply patriarchal society, women eyeing big positions stand little chance of getting the support of voters, something that made most of them shun elective politics. However, Nyamato ran an aggressive campaign in a bid to clinch the West Mugirango but lost to Henry Obwocha, who was riding on the Ford-Kenya wave in Nyamira. After the election, she was nominated to Parliament by Kanu and despite not holding an elective position, she is credited with initiating various development projects in the area. With the coming of the 2010, Constitution which expanded the number of elective seats, she vied for the Nyamira Woman Representative seat but lost to Alice Chae, a former KBC journalist. On her part, Onsando, who was at one time the national chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Mwanawake Organisation, served as a nominated MCA in Nyamira between 2013 and 2017. With a new Constitution, which introduced a devolved system of government, it was hoped that more women will win elective seats. But while there has been admirable progress in other counties, Kisii and Nyamira are still lagging behind. Save for the Woman Rep position, which is an affirmative seat, there has also been no female governor or deputy governor in the two counties 10 years into devolution. Ahead of the August 9 election, Janet Ong'era, the Kisii Woman Rep, had set her eyes on the governor's seat but pulled out, saying she had listened to the ground before arriving at the decision. However, it is believed she dropped her bid because Simba Arati had emerged as ODM's preferred candidate to succeed James Ongwae. While Arati went on to win, Ongera lost her bid to defend the Woman Rep position to Royal Media Service journalist Doris Toto Aburi. In the county assemblies, the number of elected woman MCAs has been on a downward spiral since 2013 with only one (Bombaba Borabu Ward's Beatrice Kerubo) defeating 11 opponents to emerge the winner in the August 9 election. It was the second time she was trying her hand in elective politics having first vied in 2013. After losing she was appointed a ward administrator in the Kisii County Government. Critics say the decision by major parties and coalitions to sideline women is one of the key factors jeopardising their efforts to join elective politics. It also comes with a cost since political parties must nominate woman MCAs to bridge the gender gap in the two county assemblies. "It is time to embrace women leaders. Those seeking elective seats should be given support," lawyer Gideon Nyambati says. Rachael Otundo, who was eyeing the governor seat, said female candidates are disadvantaged since their male counterparts abuse their financial war chests and power to deny them an opportunity to ascend to elective seats. She switched to the Kisii Woman Rep race in June after her running mate quit. "Women have fewer resources and need assistance from major political parties. We had socio-economic empowerment during the days of the late Dr Zachary Onyonka and Simeon Nyachae and it saw many women elected as civic leaders." Risper Maseme, who was nominated as MCA in 2017, tried her hand in the Nyaribari Masaba parliamentary seat, but lost to former Kenya Ports Authority Managing Director Daniel Manduku. She says Gusii region is a unique voting bloc, which needs civic education on women leadership. "We need unity of purpose if we intend to achieve the two-thirds gender rule. It is an embarrassment that we are still struggling to elect women in our community. Parties should make it a priority and have women given tickets during party primaries," said Maseme. It has been argued that failure by women to secure major party nomination tickets is as a strong culture of patronage and power sharing. Other factors cited as hindering female politicians include targeted violence, bullying by male politicians and sexual harassment. Women candidates in the region also complained that they lacked visibility since their male challengers dominated speeches at campaign rallies held by the two main coalitions, Azimio la Umoja One Kenya and Kenya Kwanza, and even at funerals thus denying them a chance to sell their agenda.

In Kisii, women politicians still face challenge beating patriarchal mindset

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In Kisii, women politicians still face challenge beating patriarchal mindset

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