Women’s Political Participation Opportunities in the Nakuru and Narok Counties of Kenya

https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.5.4.106

Authors

Keywords:

Effective, Implementation, Inclusivity, Participation, Supportive

Abstract

This paper focused on the political opportunity to empower women in Nakuru and Narok counties of Kenya by conducting comparative evaluative research. Feminist Theory informed this study, which focuses on gender disparities and how political, economic, and social factors dictate women's roles and engagements. This research aimed to assess the KB clown sketches and their impact on women's political chances. A purposive sampling procedure was adopted in which 335 participants with critical informants, ordinary citizens, and young women interested in leadership positions were sampled. Quantitative and qualitative research was used, and questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions were used to collect data among women to understand the current political situation. Data analysis was done in two ways, which include descriptive and thematic analysis. The quantitative data from the administered questionnaires were analyzed descriptively to produce frequencies and percentages for the findings on women’s political participation opportunities. The information collected from interviews and focus group discussions was analyzed through thematic analysis to develop trends and findings on socio-cultural perspective, policy understanding, and institutional support for women in politics. Research outcomes revealed that despite the improvement in electoral democracy and female representation in the political process, barriers including but not limited to inadequate resource mobilization, conflict of cultures and practices, and unequal/ irregular championing of gender mainstreaming policies and frameworks still inhibit inclusion. These policies were deemed critical because they informed women as to how they could extend effective democracy in political systems while also ensuring that people in a community understood the gains that could be derived from having women's leadership. Research concluded that this can be achieved through efforts to strengthen mentorship programs, increase public appreciation for the importance of women's participation in leadership and governance, and improve the application of supportive policies and laws. Some recommendations focus on political capacity-building and gender sensitization training to empower women for political positions and call on the political parties to encourage gender parity on their list of candidates. Using media and technology in leadership and management to promote role-modeling to women leaders is also essential in establishing relationships and collaboration with other regional and global organizations on lobbying for women's political rights. Research into these matters should be conducted with backup data for a substantive approach to the progress of Nakuru, Narok, and other counties. Individually, these measures present a trajectory toward improving the environment of women's political participation in Kenya.

Dimensions

Alzuabi, A. Z. (2016). Sociopolitical Participation of Kuwaiti Women in the Development Process: Current State and Challenges Ahead. Journal of Social Service Research, 42(5), 689-702. https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2016.1212775 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2016.1212775

Anyango, B. O., Alupo, B. A., & Opoku, M. P. (2018). Women in Politics in Kenya: An Analysis of Participation and Barriers. Multidisciplinary Journal of Gender Studies, 7(1), 1505-1530. doi: 10.17583/generos.2018.3179 DOI: https://doi.org/10.17583/generos.2018.3179

Barnes, T. D., & Cassese, E. C. (2017). American Party Women: A Look at the Gender Gap within Parties. Political Research Quarterly, 70(1), 127. https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912916675738 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1065912916675738

Bouka, Y., Berry, M.E., & Kamuru, M.M. (2019). Women's political inclusion in Kenya's devolved political system. Journal of Eastern African Studies, 13(2), 313-333. https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2019.1592294 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2019.1592294

Bukve, O. (2019). Comparative Designs. In Designing Social Science Research (pp. 161-177). Springer International Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03979-0_9 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03979-0_9

Carroll, S. J., & Sanbonmatsu, K. (2013). More women can run: Gender and pathways to the state legislatures. Oxford University Press.

https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199322428.001.0001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199322428.001.0001

Chattopadhyay, R., & Duflo, E. (2004). Women as Policy Makers: Evidence from a Randomized Policy Experiment in India. Econometrica, 72(5), 1409-1443. http://www.jstor.org/stable/3598894, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0262.2004.00539.x DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0262.2004.00539.x

Du Plessis, P., & Mistry, R. (2019). Teachers for rural schools-a challenge for South Africa. South African Journal of Education, 39. Accessed on 13th April 2022. https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v39ns1a1774 DOI: https://doi.org/10.15700/saje.v39ns1a1774

Duriesmith D, & Meger S. (2020). Returning to the root: Radical feminist thought and feminist theories of International Relations. Review of International Studies, 46(3), 357-375. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210520000133 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0260210520000133

Green, J. E. (2017). Has Inequality Led to a Crisis for Liberalism? Current History, 116 (793), 320. https://doi.org/10.1525/curh.2017.116.793.320 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1525/curh.2017.116.793.320

Hailu, M. F., Lee, E. E., Halkiyo, A., Tsotniashvili, K., & Tewari, N. R. (2023, March 6). Gender and higher education in African universities: A critical discourse analysis of key policy mandates in Kenya, Rwanda, and Uganda. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 31, Article 7371.

https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.31.7371 DOI: https://doi.org/10.14507/epaa.31.7371

Jankowski, M., & Marcinkiewicz, K. (2019). Ineffective and counterproductive? The impact of gender quotas in Open-list proportional representation systems, Politics & Gender, 15(1), 1-33. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743923X17000538 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S1743923X17000538

Kabira, W. M. (2013). Women's experiences as sources of public and legitimate knowledge: Constitution making in Kenya. Pathways to African Feminism and Development: Same Story Different Narratives, 1(1). http://erepository.uonbi.ac.ke/handle/11295/61333

Kaimenyi, C.K., & Muriungi, C.K. (2022). Gender Mainstreaming: Perspectives and Insights in Kenya. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities Research, 2(1), 33-45.

Kamaru, M.M. (2018). The Missing Piece: The Legislature, Gender Parity and Constitutional Legitimacy in Kenya. In Nanjala, N., and Marie-Emmanuelle, P. (Eds.), Where Women Are: Gender & the 2017 Kenyan Elections. Nairobi: Don Bosco Printing Press. https://doi.org/10.4000/books.africae.1943 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/books.africae.1943

Kandusi, C. & Waiganjo, E. (2015). Social-Cultural Factors Affecting Maasai Women Participation in Decision Making in Tanzania. A Case Study of Longido District. International Journal of Scientific & Technology Research, 4(6), 77-86.

Kassa, S. (2015). Challenges and Opportunities of Women Political Participation in Ethiopia. J Glob Econ 3(7): 162. doi:10.4172/2375-4389.1000162 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4172/2375-4389.1000162

Kenya's State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action. (2019). Kenya's Report on the Progress of Implementing the Beijing Platform for Action. Nairobi: Government Printer.

Krook, M. L., & Sanin, J. R. (2016). "Violence Against Women in Politics: A Defence of the Concept." Politica y Gobierno, 23(2), 459-490.

Lichuma, W. (2017). Gender Equality Challenges in Kenya and Africa. Australian Federal Police at the Australian High Commission in LONDON Offices .

Malongza, I. F., Apusigah, A. A., & Abagre, C. I. (2017). Affirmative Action as a Strategy for Promoting Women's Participation in Politics in the Frafra Traditional Area of Ghana. Ghana Journal of Development Studies, 14(2), 121-141. https://doi.org/10.4314/gjds.v14i2.7 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4314/gjds.v14i2.7

Owuor, E. (2016). Women and political inclusion in Kenya: A historical overview, 1963-2016. In J. Biegon, Gender and Political Processes in Kenya (pp. 7-38). Strathmore University.

Pair, E., Vicas N, Weber, A.M., Meausoone, V., Zou, J., Njuguna, A., & Darmstadt, G.L. (2021). Quantification of Gender Bias and Sentiment Toward Political Leaders Over 20 Years of Kenyan News Using Natural Language Processing. Front. Psychol., 12(5), 712-716.

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.712646 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.712646

Ranta, E. (2024). Intersecting inequalities in women's political inclusion in Kenya. International Feminist Journal of Politics, 26(4), 881-902. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616742.2024.2368215 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/14616742.2024.2368215

Ringera, K. (2017). Racking the political leadership ceiling in Kenya: The 2017 general election and women. McCain Institute Arizona State University.

Turnbull, B. (2022). Women Who Only Serve Chai: Gender Quotas, Reservations and Proxies in India, London: Routledge India.

https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003291466 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003291466

UN Women. (2022). Handbook on gender mainstreaming for gender equality results. UN Women

Waiswa, M., & Phelps, M. (2017). Empowering Women: A case study of women's participation in political processes in Nakuru county. Retrieved from the University Digital Conservancy, https://hdl.handle.net/11299/190784.

Yadav, P. (2020). Can women benefit from war? Women's agency in conflict and post-conflict contexts, Journal of Peace Research, 58(3), 449-61. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343320905619. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0022343320905619

Zaenal, M. (2022). Political Communication Strategies to Increase the Opportunity of Women's Political Representation in Indonesian Parliament. Journal of International Women's Studies, 23(1), 280-293. Accessed 12th July 2024.

Published

2024-11-19

How to Cite

Onamu, B. A., Matanga, F. K., & Odhiambo, E. O. S. (2024). Women’s Political Participation Opportunities in the Nakuru and Narok Counties of Kenya. African Journal of Empirical Research, 5(4), 1296–1303. https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.5.4.106

Most read articles by the same author(s)

1 2 > >>