Kisii women eyeing political seats in the 2017 general elections have been challenged to fight for their rightful positions in political parties.
Nominated Member of the Kisii County Assembly (MCA) Ms Josephine Ombati challenged women to first ensure there is competitive internal democracy in their political parties of choice to enhance their chances of winning their political parties' nomination tickets.
Speaking on Thursday in Kisii town during a Kosoo County women leaders’ forum organised by Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK), a project of the International Rescue Committee (IRC) implemented in the County by Amjutine, a local Community-Based Organisation, Ombati lamented that the culture of men controlling political parties' top decision making organs continued locking out women candidates from winning party nomination tickets.
Ombati challenged women to exploit their voting numerical strength to ensure fellow women not only occupy top political parties' positions, but also become part of the membership in the parties' top decision making organs in their parties.
"I am challenging women eyeing various political positions to ensure they form part of their political parties' top decision making organs as part of a strategy to ensure party nominations are transparent and gender sensitive instead of leaving men to control how parties are run and managed," said Ombati.
Ms Sarah Manyara, a grassroots leader from Kitutu Chache South Sub-County challenged women to use their little resources to support fellow women candidates to ensure they compete favourably with their male competitors.
Manyara, however, asked women to stand up for fellow women during campaigns and ensure they use their numerical strength to vote for women candidates instead of voting for men courtesy of handouts which she regretted misled women to vote against fellow women.