𝐊𝐄𝐖𝐎𝐏𝐀 𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐅𝐎𝐑𝐌𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐂𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄𝐑 𝐏𝐎𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐋 𝐒𝐏𝐀𝐂𝐄 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐖𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐍 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐓𝐇 𝐀𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐎𝐅 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟕

The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has called for electoral and political reforms to create a safer and more inclusive environment for women and young people seeking elective positions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

KEWOPA Chairperson Hon. Leah Sankaire (Kajiado County) said women continue to face discrimination in political parties, unequal access to campaign financing, difficult nomination processes, violence, intimidation and online harassment.

Speaking during a meeting convened by KEWOPA in partnership with Uraia Trust, Sankaire said political violence and intimidation were discouraging women from participating in leadership.

“No woman should have to choose between her safety and her political aspirations,” she said at the convention that brought together aspiring women and youth leaders, local administrators and electoral stakeholders to discuss ways of promoting inclusive participation in leadership and elections.

Sankaire said the growing culture of political violence and goonism was not only a threat to elections but also to women who aspire to leadership.

“When a woman knows that stepping forward to seek office may expose her to intimidation, harassment or violence, we cannot tell her simply to be courageous,” she said.

The KEWOPA boss challenged political parties, electoral institutions, Parliament and civil society to identify and remove barriers that prevent women and youth from participating fully in politics.

Hon. Sankaire also noted that young people continue to face limited access to political networks and resources and are often treated as voters and campaign crowds rather than leaders.

She said Kenya must move beyond increasing the number of women and youth in politics and work towards making their leadership normal.

“The goal is not to make women’s and young people’s leadership exceptional; it is to make it normal,” she said.

“2027 must be the election where women and youth move from the margins to the centre of power,” added Hon. Sankaire.

 Apart from KEWOPA members drawn from both the Senate and National Assembly, other leaders were also present. They included Former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister and Senior Counsel Hon. Martha Karua, who was the Chief Guest. 

The leaders shared their  personal leadership journeys and encouraged the participants not to be intimidated, but to step forward and offer themselves for leadership.

Hon. Karua observed that the more women and young people contest for elective positions, the greater the opportunity for them to be elected and represented in decision-making.

She said women amust take advantage of their numbers to claim their rightful space in political leadership.

“Nearly half of our population is women. For more women to be elected, you have to come out in large numbers and offer yourself for leadership,” she said.

Hon. Karua said political parties must provide women with fair opportunities to compete for elective positions, noting that women should not accept being treated as mere ornaments within political organisations.

“We are not ornaments in political parties. We should have 50/50 chances in parties,” she said.

She also urged women to hold political parties accountable and to consider leaving parties that consistently fail to treat them fairly.

Hon. Karua said the country would have more women in elected positions if voters and political parties focused on candidates' ability, integrity and commitment to service.

“If we go on capabilities alone, there will be more elected women in office,” she said.