Challenges facing women in politics, what needs to be done

Kenya’s constitution is clear: the “State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender”.

However, as a recent Rift Valley Institute (RVI) briefing note on women in politics underscores, almost seven years later, this principle is far from being met.

This is true even when it comes to appointive bodies where, in theory, a quota should be relatively easy to implement. Instead, the current Cabinet, for example, consists of 18 men and only 5 women, while the Supreme Court consists of five male and only two female justices.

The shortfall is even more acute when it comes to elected positions. Of 350 members of the National Assembly, just 68 are women, and only 16 of those were elected in non-gender specific constituency ballots. There are currently no female governors or elected female senators.

Fortunately, there may well be more women elected to key positions this August. Notable examples include Nakuru County, which is likely to see a female senator – after the County Assembly Speaker, Susan Kihika, won the Jubilee nomination – and up to three female MPs with women securing the Jubilee ticket in Njoro, Gilgil and Naivasha constituencies. While in Kirinyaga, the gubernatorial race is seen by many as a two horse race between Jubilee’s Anne Waiguru and Narc-Kenya’s Martha Karua. However, the picture looks less positive when it comes to the contest for members of county assemblies (MCAs) across much of the country.

'TOPPING UP'

Clearly, a gender quota is difficult to legislate for in a first-past-the-post constituency-based system such as Kenya, and often requires a "topping up" system of additional nominated members. However, this is problematic as nominated members often enjoy limited influence and – particularly significantly in the Kenyan context – lack a clear budget line. With nominated Members of Parliament (MPs), for example, having no Constituency Development Fund (CDF); and nominated MCAs no ward development fund (WDF).

However, in Kenya, as across much of the world, there are many challenges that prevent women securing elected office in large numbers. The recent RVI briefing lists the following: “Access to financial resources to campaign; access to political networks, and internal barriers within political parties; voter perceptions of women politicians and attacks on their reputation by media and other politicians; lack of effective publicity and visibility on the campaign trail; and violence and intimidation”.

Unfortunately, many of these challenges appear to be growing. This is true, for example, of access to financial resources with heightened competition – particularly for the gubernatorial and MCA races – having significantly increased the costs of campaigns. As individual candidates not only have to pay for posters and other campaign paraphernalia, but also have to facilitate their mobilisers and contribute to local development projects and assist local constituents.

ATTACKS INCREASING

It is also true that attacks on women’s reputation and fears and experiences of violence are, if anything, increasing. Regarding the former, it is clear that more use is being made of social media, which – while having a number of benefits – renders it increasingly easy to spread rumours or propaganda quickly, cheaply and anonymously. This is problematic given that cultural norms often render women particularly susceptible to rumours – especially when it comes to insinuations of promiscuity. While, due to concerns over how such rumours will affect family members, women often also find such propaganda more stressful and difficult to live with.

Similarly, many have suggested – including the recent RVI briefing – that women often face particularly high levels of violence and intimidation. Again, there is a danger that this problem may be getting worse, as "thugs for hire" seek economic opportunities by selling their services to local politicians in an environment of heightened competition.

The problem however, is not only that women are more likely to be victims of certain types of violence and intimidation, but that they also often find such experiences more of a deterrent to pursuing their political ambitions.

The implication is that – if people actually want to get more women into elective positions in the country – more needs to be done to address these challenges, and to encourage and support women to participate.

Gabrielle Lynch is associate professor of comparative politics at the University of Warwick in the United Kingdom.

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