National Gender and Equality Commission chairperson Rehema Jaldesa has urged more women to seek elective positions in the 2027 General Election.
She urged women to turn up in large numbers as aspirants to have an equal opportunity to win, just like men.
Jaldesa said the Commission has opened a series of sensitisation dialogues across the country to encourage women to seek elective seats.
She pointed to Meru, Kisii and Nyamira counties as being underrepresented in terms of elective seats following the 2022 General Election.
“Women remain underrepresented in non-reserved elective positions in Meru, Kisii and Nyamira in MCAs, MPs, gubernatorial and Senate positions,” she said.
She said women won only two out of 56 positions in Meru, one out of 56 in Kisii and none of the 26 positions in Nyamira.
“No woman was elected senator or MP. Meru elected a governor who was later impeached. In 2022, most candidates cleared to contest for political positions were men, more than women, meaning fewer women turned up to seek elective seats,” Jaldesa said.
She said the Commission is going around the country to identify barriers to the participation of women, youth, people living with disabilities (PWDs) and marginalised communities in political leadership, including gender-based violence, as the country heads to the General Election next year.
She said the Commission will monitor party primaries to ensure they comply with the Constitution on inclusion.
“Nomination rules govern parties on how to conduct primaries and comply with gender and PWD requirements,” she said.
Jaldesa spoke on Wednesday on the sidelines of a three-day sensitisation exercise at the Meru National Polytechnic, which started on Wednesday and will end on Friday.
She said the Commission holds separate dialogues with youth, women, people living with disabilities and marginalised communities.
Jaldesa said political parties should reduce registration fees for women, youth and people living with disabilities to encourage more of them to vie for elective positions.
