By Milliam Murigi
Women aspiring to elective leadership positions in Kenya continue to face harassment, high campaign costs and cultural attitudes that limit their participation in politics.
This was revealed recently during a We Shall Lead Media Salon that brought together journalists, editors and political leaders to examine women and young people participation in politics and how media coverage shapes who is perceived as a credible political leader.
“Harassment remains a significant obstacle for women in politics, particularly young women seeking to establish themselves in leadership,” said Wanjiku Thiga, the National Youth Leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP),
She said the experiences of women in politics should not be dismissed, calling for greater attention to the barriers that undermine their participation and ability to compete for elective positions.
Speaking during the same forum Isaiah Kaaka, a Member of Parliament aspirant for Kajiado West, said that cultural attitudes in some communities also continue to make it difficult for women to pursue leadership, despite progress in their participation in politics.
According to him, although women’s participation in leadership was gradually changing, more needed to be done to improve their representation and encourage young women to pursue elective positions.
He noted that women who had overcome these challenges deserved recognition, saying their experiences could inspire a new generation of female leaders.
“Nobody is going to bring you a seat at the table; you really have to fight for it,” Kaaka said, urging women to remain determined despite the obstacles they encounter.
He pointed to the importance of celebrating women who had overcome barriers and sharing their experiences of resilience to encourage others to participate in leadership.
Gladys Wandiru, Kibera constituency Member of Parliament aspirant, highlighted harassment and the high cost of politics as additional challenges facing women, particularly young women seeking elective office.
She said harassment was a persistent problem that could extend beyond physical assault to sexual harassment, making political participation difficult for female aspirants.
“Harassment is real. It is very real, especially for us young women,” Wandiru said, adding that the concerns raised by aspirants needed to be addressed rather than politicised.
She called on politicians to work towards reducing the challenges faced by aspirants and creating a political environment in which women could participate without fear of harassment.
Wandiru also criticised the high cost of political participation in Kenya, saying it disproportionately affected women and young people who wanted to seek elective positions.
“Honestly, politics should not be this hard. It should be something fun, but now we carry it as something really complicated, which should not be the case,” she said.
She urged political leaders to create a more inclusive environment by providing equal opportunities for women and men and ensuring young people had the same opportunities to participate as older generations.
According to Wandiru, easing the financial and social burdens associated with political participation could help address many of the concerns raised by aspiring leaders.
The concerns come as prospective candidates begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, when aspirants will compete for elective seats across the country.
Kenya’s Constitution provides for gender equality and equal opportunities in leadership. However, achieving meaningful representation remains a challenge, with women continuing to raise concerns about the conditions under which they seek and contest political office.
Addressing these barriers will require efforts by political parties, electoral institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen safeguards against harassment, promote fair competition and improve access to opportunities for aspiring leaders.
