Women politicians in Meru County have kicked off a campaign to enhance the number of elected women in the next general election.
The women leaders are also calling for amendment of election laws to allow political parties nominate women, who vie for elective positions, into special seats.
Since 2013, only 10 women have been elected to the county assembly, with the number declining from five in 2013, two in 2017 and one in 2022.
However, speaking during the inaugural Meru Political Sisters Convention, North Imenti parliamentary aspirant Carol Muriuki said they are focusing on ensuring at least two thirds of all elective seats are occupied by women.
Ms Muriuki, the patron of the inaugural convention said the meeting was meant to look into the place of women in political leadership in the wake of the ouster of Mwangaza and decline in number of elected MCAs in Meru.
“The convention brings together women who have vied for political seats and those who intend to contest in future. We are rolling out civic education initiatives across the county to encourage the people of Meru to elect women who offer themselves,” Ms Muriuki said.
According to Esther Karimi, a politician who is eying the Kangeta Ward representative seat, the convention singled out social cultural impediments, political party barriers and patriarchy as the key challenges facing women politicians in Meru.
“We have taken stock of women leadership in Meru and established a common trend on hindrances that must be dealt with. When Annarita Karimi was elected MP in 1975, she was hounded out of office after two years. This has recurred 50 years later after the ouster of Kawira Mwangaza from the office of governor. Overall, women are doing badly in elective politics,” Karimi said.
She accused political parties of frustrating women leadership through recycling ‘perennial women nominees’ particularly in county assemblies.
“We will be educating the public to ensure there is a level playing ground for both male and female political aspirants. The entrenched patriarchy is also promoted by fellow women who declare that ‘I can’t be led by a woman’. Political parties should help nurture women politicians and not encouraging perennial nominations,” she said.
According to Ms Karimi, a change in the law to allow those who vie to feature in the special seats nomination list, would encourage more women to go for elective seats.
“The challenge we have is that very few women go to the ballot because special seats go to those who do not vie. If we have many women on the ballot, there are higher chances of being elected,” the former nominated MCA said.
Ms Felicity Biriri, who is eying the Meru Woman Representative seat in Meru said half of the population continues to be left out of key decision making organs due to election biases.
“As women, we are ready to help each other raise the resources needed for campaigns. It is vital for our people to understand that women also make good leaders,” Ms Biriri said.
The convention resolved to fight for the election of atleast 14 members of County Assembly and three Members of Parliament in Meru.
Meru County has 45 County Assembly wards and nine constituencies with only one elected MCA in the current electoral cycle.
