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.
The challenges emerged during a recent We Shall Lead Media Salon that brought together journalists, editors and political leaders to examine the participation of women and young people in politics and how media coverage shapes public perceptions of credible political leaders.
Wanjiku Thiga, the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) National Youth Leader, said harassment remained a major obstacle for women seeking political office, particularly young women trying to establish themselves in leadership.
“Harassment remains a significant obstacle for women in politics, particularly young women seeking to establish themselves in leadership,” Thiga said.
She said the experiences of women in politics should not be dismissed, urging stakeholders to pay greater attention to the barriers that undermine their participation and ability to compete for elective positions.
Isaiah Kaaka, a parliamentary aspirant for Kajiado West, said cultural attitudes in some communities continued to discourage women from pursuing leadership positions despite gradual changes in their participation in politics.
He said more needed to be done to improve women’s representation and encourage young women to vie for elective positions.
Kaaka added that women who had overcome these barriers 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,” he said, urging women to remain determined despite the obstacles they encounter.
He emphasised the importance of celebrating women who had overcome barriers and sharing their experiences to encourage others to participate in leadership.
Gladys Wandiru, a parliamentary aspirant for Kibera Constituency, identified harassment and the high cost of politics as additional challenges facing women, particularly young aspirants seeking elective office.
She said harassment was a persistent problem that extended beyond physical assault to include sexual harassment, making political participation difficult for female candidates.
“Harassment is real. It is very real, especially for us young women,” Wandiru said, adding that concerns raised by aspirants needed to be addressed rather than politicised.
She called on political leaders to work towards reducing the challenges faced by aspirants and creating an environment in which women could participate in politics without fear of harassment.
Wandiru also criticised the high cost of political participation in Kenya, saying it disproportionately affected women and young people seeking 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 promote an inclusive political environment by ensuring women and men had equal opportunities and that young people could participate on an equal footing with older generations.
According to Wandiru, reducing 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 are expected to 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 concerted efforts by political parties, electoral institutions and other stakeholders to strengthen safeguards against harassment, promote fair competition and expand opportunities for aspiring leaders.
