Influence of Local Politics on Women Participation in Leadership Positions in Turkana County, Kenya

Beatrice Asukul Moe; David Muthondeki Kabera

doi:10.51867/ajernet.5.3.17

Authors

Beatrice Asukul Moe
beatricemoe4@gmail.com
Mount Kenya University
Dr. David Muthondeki Kabera Mount Kenya University https://orcid.org/0009-0000-0890-6155

Keywords:

Leadership Positions, Local Politics, Women Participation

Abstract

Gender inequalities continue to persist, raising concerns among gender advocates about the goodwill and commitment of governments to achieve equality. Women, especially from pastoralist communities, are regarded only as housewives, hence inferior to men. However, some women have emerged and thrived in leadership opportunities, irrespective of this belief. This paper sought to assess the influence of local politics on women's participation in leadership positions in Turkana County. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influence of political factors on women's participation in political leadership in Turkana County. The paper was anchored on The Social Feminist Theory and The Theory of Structural Functionalism, which provided insights on the influence of local politics on women's participation in political leadership. The paper adopted a case study design as a route to investigate the research subject. The target population of the study was 168 women leaders from the county government of Turkana. A sample size of 131 respondents, determined via Krejcie and Morgan's 1970 formula, was used. A questionnaire and interview guide were used as data collection instruments. Data was analyzed quantitatively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26 and presented in tables and charts, while qualitative data was grouped into common themes. Inferential statistics were used to evaluate the influence of local politics on women's participation in political leadership which had a mean weighted mean of 2.72; indicating a significant influence on women participating in political leadership in Turkana County. The study recommends that more women be encouraged by the county government of Turkana, community actors, and political parties to take part in leadership roles by adopting guidelines that are not discriminatory.

Dimensions

REFERENCES

Adogu, P., Ilika, A., Asuzu, M., & Uwakwe, K. (2019). Prevalence and determinants of suicidal ideation among Nigerian police officers. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 34(4), 409-418.

Ali, N., & Begisen, J. (2017). Women strongly emerge as political leaders Turkana County. UNDP.

Anderson, S. (2019). Female Political Representation and its Impact on Uganda. Kampala: Economic and Development Institutions.

Barnes, T., & Cassese, E. (2016). American Party Women: A look at the gender gap within parties. Almetric. https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912916675738 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912916675738

Bouka, Y. (2017). Strengthening the leadership and influence of women in politics Turkana County. Rift Valley Institute.

Brechenmacher, S. (2018). Tackling Women's Underrepresentation in US politics: Comparative Perspectives from Europe. London: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Chung, M. (2015). Relation between lack of forgiveness and depression: The moderating effect of self-compassion. Psychological Reports, 119(2), 573-585. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294116663520 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294116663520

Cole, D., & Tibby, M. (2013). Defining and developing your approach to employability. The Higher Education Academy. Retrieved from https://s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/assets.creode.advancehe-document-manager/documents/hea/private/resources/

Dahlerup, D., & Freidenvall, L. (2011). Electoral Gender Quota Systems and their Implementation in Europe. European Parliament, Directorate-General for Internal Policies.

Dibie, J., & Dibie, R. (2012). Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the empowerment of women in Africa. African and Asian Studies, 11(1-2), 95-122. https://doi.org/10.1163/156921012X629349 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1163/156921012X629349

Flax, J. (1990). Postmodernism and gender relations in feminist theory. In L. Nicholson (Ed.), Feminism/postmodernism (pp. 39-62). New York, NY: Routledge.

Garner, R. (2009). Structural Functional Theory. Los Angeles: Wiley Online Library.

Goitom, H. (2017). Kenya: Parliament ordered to Enact Legislation Related to Increasing the Number of Female Members. Library of Congress.

Graff, H. (2012). A very short summary of socialist feminist theory and practice. Oakton Community College.

Hern, E. (2017). Gender and participation in Africa's electoral regimes: An analysis of variation in the gender gap. Politics, Groups & Identities, 8(3), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1080/21565503.2018.1458323 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/21565503.2018.1458323

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. (2021). Women's political participation - Africa Barometer 2021. https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/womens-political-participation-africa-barometer-2021.pdf

Kaimenyi, C., & Kinya, E. (2013). An analysis of affirmative action: The Two Thirds Gender Rule Turkana County. International Journal of Business, Humanities and Technology, 3(6), 91-97.

Kairuki, A. (2018). The role of women in politics in Tanzania. Argumente Und Materialien Zum Zeitgeschehen, 90, 17-23.

Kandawasvika-Nhundu, R. (2013). Political Parties in Africa through a Gender Lens. Stockholm: International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

Kivoi, D. (2014). Factors impeding political participation and representation of women Turkana County. Humanities and Social Sciences, 2(6), 173-181. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20140206.12 DOI: https://doi.org/10.11648/j.hss.20140206.15

Klingorová, K., & Havlíček, T. (2015). Religion and gender inequality: The status of women in the societies of world religions. Moravian Geographical Reports, 23(2), 2-11. https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2015-0006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/mgr-2015-0006

Laiqat, S. (2022). Challenges in women's access to higher education in Pakistan: An interview study (Master's Thesis, Uppsala University).

Lay, K., & Daley, J. G. (2007). A critique of feminist theory. Advances in Social Work, 8(1), 49-61. https://doi.org/10.18060/131 DOI: https://doi.org/10.18060/131

Lucas, J. W. (2007). Structural Functional Theory. Chicago: Wiley Online Library. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-007-0160-0 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781405165518.wbeoss289

Macmillan, P. (2017). Women, Politics and Democracy in Latin America. Los Angeles: Oxfam.

Mashigo, A. C. L. (2014). Factors influencing work readiness of graduates: An exploratory study (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch University).

Murunga, V. (2017). Africa's Pr0gress 0n Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment is Notable but Gender Inequality Persists. AFIDEP.

Musau, Z. (2019). African W0men in P0litics: Miles to go Before Parity is Achieved. Africa Renewal.

Napikoski, L. (2019). Socialist feminism, definition and comparisons, how is it different than other types of feminism? ThoughtCo.

Ndirangu, L. (2017). Challenges facing women in the participation of politics in Nairobi and Kajiado Counties. Strategic Journal of Business and Change Management, 1(1), 775-772. https://doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v4i3.538 DOI: https://doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v4i3.538

Nwabunkeonye, U. P. (2014). Challenges to women active participation in politics in Nigeria. Sociology and Anthropology, 2(7), 284-290.

https://doi.org/10.13189/sa.2014.020704 DOI: https://doi.org/10.13189/sa.2014.020704

Odebiyi, O. A., & Iwuagwu, O. (2018). Challenges facing women in politics: A case study of Lagos State. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities, 1(2), 110-120.

Oyelude, A., & Bamigbola, A. (2012). Women empowerment through access to information: The strategic roles of non-governmental organizations in Nigeria. Helsinki: IFLA.

Salam, M. (2018). A Record 117 Women Won office, Reshaping America's Leadership. New York Times.

UN Women. (2019). Facts and figures: Leadership and political participation. UN women.

UN Women. (2024, February 28). How can gender equality reduce poverty? UN Women. Retrieved from https://www.unwomen.org/en/news-stories/explainer/2024/02/how-can-gender-equality-reduce-poverty

UNDP. (2015). Where Are the Women? A Study of Women, Politics, Parliaments and Equality in the CARICOM countries. Geneva: United Nations Development Programme.

United Nations. (2019). Women's participation in the exercise of political power cannot be disputed, General Assembly President stresses as she pens high-level event: Women in Power. United Nations Press.