Women Politicians reclaiming their Titles

This story is part of the African Women in Media (AWiM)/Luminate Young Women in Politics Media Project.

Patriarchal beliefs of male, heterosexual dominance and the devaluation of girls and women lie at the root of gender-based leadership.

Patriarchy is a structural force that influences power relations affecting women politicians in Bungoma. In this report, Ridah Chebet examines how gender dominance discourages women from political participation, with the report throwing up likely solutions.

She is a beam of happiness and excitement. She had agreed to meet me at her office in Bungoma, Bungoma county, at midday and she was already seated and waiting, calmly taking in the Tranquil of the decorated office at county headquarters.

It is difficult to believe that she is the first woman deputy governor of a county of an area of 2,069 km2, nine constituencies and a population of 1.7 Million of which more than half are females.

It was smiles when she sighted my presence together with my camera person from Maisha Television Kenya. Her demeanor illuminated the Incredibles of Leadership Nuggets and softening her solemn-looking face as well as revealing white even teeth.

She stood up and greeted my reporter and I as she made us comfortable in her office, well guarded and warm deftly responding to questions. Pastor Janepher Mbatiany is the Deputy Governor of Bungoma county in the western region of Kenya under ford Kenya Party in the 2022 general election.

PASTOR Janepher Chemutai Mbatiany a Arts Degree in Gender, Women and Development Holder and additional degree in Theology from Egerton University, is an experienced leader and can talk about challenges and women’s participation in politics and leadership with ease.

Mbatiany , who served as Gender Advisor In Governor Lusaka’s office between 2013 and 2017 , says the passion to serve people by addressing their needs saw her join politics.

Mbatiany who in 2022 contested for deputy governor for the Bungoma gubernatorial seat with Governor Ken Lusaka on the platform of the ford Kenya party ticket, said she joined the party in a bid to foster for proper representation of women at all levels, to upsurge constitution mandate of proportional representation that all elective and selective positions had to be 35 per cent specially allocated to women.

The discussion soon narrowed down to how patriarchal politics was not favourable to women.

She said that the electoral process in Kenya and particularly western kenya region was not only very expensive , but the belief that only men must lead is detrimental and it negatively affects women politicians.

She said currently there is no single elected woman for the member of national assembly in bungoma county and this is attributed to male dominance of political systems, culture and the economy, not to mention threats of violence, educational stipulations and gender stereotyping.”

Kenyan women over the years have shown keen interest in leadership positions, but so many barriers limit them, as much as They occupy executive positions in local and multinational companies, the political space continues to be elusive to many of them.

From a gender perspective, three vital lessons can be learnt from the 2022 general election. First, gender issues are on the rise, a fact shown, not least by the appointment of the first-ever women running mates for one of the two main presidential candidates.

Second, although the ratios of women representatives at all levels are slowly but steadily increasing, the gender quota is just window dressing, which the parties blatantly ignore or work around by nominating women candidates to top-up lists.

Third, violence against women in politics poses a serious threat to women’s political inclusion and citizenship. patriarchal attitudes and structural barriers in Kenya’s political institutions disadvantage women, reducing the pool of candidates and the number of those elected. Despite robust legislation through Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, which supports women and ensure gender equality, during the August 2022 general elections A total of 1,962 female candidates were cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to vie for different seats in the 2022 elections out of a total of 14,137 candidates a number that is still a drop in the ocean.

The major reasons for that included self-doubt (despite women actually having considerable professional experience and skills) and a lack of consent from potential candidates’ husbands (they often fear that they will not have enough time to look after their children and run the household, and see political activity as a threat to doing business and personal safety).

Eleven years after the promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), women are asking what is there to celebrate when several gains to women’s representation and participation in leadership continue to be eroded, ignored and replaced with self-serving interests?

“How do we celebrate when the two thirds gender rule has not been fulfilled in all arms of government not even in the county assemblies where only eight counties are compliant meaning thirty-nine are not!” was the powerful reflective question posed by Hon. Martha Karua during the “Women Must Lead” Policy Dialogue held on 28th August 20202 in Nairobi, Kenya.

The Dialogue organized by the African Women’s Development and Communication Network (FEMNET) in partnership with International IDEA and WPP Consortium partners brought together close to 30 women leaders to reflect and strategize on women’s political participation in Kenya. former Trans Nzoia woman representative janet Nangabo, Speaking at the Kitale women GK Prison , challenged women in the region not to fear contesting against men in all the elective seats in the 2022 polls. Mrs. Nangabo expressed concerns that a little number of women in the region have shown interest in elective politics with hopes of being nominated.

Besides Julia Ojiambo, the first woman to be elected MP in Western in 1974, Christine Mango, who was Butula MP between 2002 and 2007, and Mary Emase, Teso South MP few women have dared try national politics.

Former Bungoma Woman Rep Reginalda Wanyonyi Who was seeking to recapture her seat in the last general elections speaking in an interview with KTN NEWS said women stand a better chance to win parliamentary, senate, governor and ward representative seats.

But….“Culture and lack of respect for women have been a major problem in Western, but slowly we are overcoming that. We have female politicians who have declared interest in top county jobs and MP seats already, ”

Ms. Wanyonyi cited ignorance among women and fear of violence as factors that have eclipsed female politicians in the past.

“We would like political parties to open up and create a friendly environment for women to take leadership positions. I believe 2022 will be the beginning of the female politicians’ breakthrough. We shall not let men take away everything,” said Wanyonyi.

According to her, some women in leadership positions have also suppressed the voice of budding female politicians. women from the western region in kenya have decided to be at the forefront in fighting for women’s rights through their group western union for change, they accused the elected women of neglecting emerging issues that affect women directly and focusing on their personal ambitions in their first meeting held in busia county the group discussed their mission which is to bring change to women in terms of representation and financial freedom through their table banking program.

According to the women the retrogressive culture has made many women shy away from change hence there is a need to empower them through various projects. How do we end this? increase awareness across the country about women’s rights and the attack on patriarchal attitudes, recognizing women as political subjects, ending violence against women and the denial of their rights, deconstructing the sexual division of labor ,speeding up women’s economic empowerment and enhancing their participation in labour markets

Written by Ridah Chebet Kering. 0713767849 ridahc2015@gmail.com Social: Ridah chebet