Garissa council of elders has been urged to stay away from retrogressive cultures that limit the place of women in their societies.
Speaking in Garissa Town after a two days workshop for women, the Kenyan Women Holdings project manager Margaret Mbugua faulted the elders for using culture and religion to oppress its women, especially those wishing to ascend to leadership positions.
Mbugua said unlike other parts in the country where female aspirants were coming out to seek elective posts, including and not limited to those of MPs, Senate, governors and MCAs, it is only the Northeastern region where women have no such opportunities.
The woman manager disclosed that retrogressive culture and religion had become two major obstacles to women politicians.
“Holding the title of a woman in Garissa is itself a challenge as local elders will definitely rally behind the electorate to reject you for defying their demands. I have urged them [clan elders] to engage in other transformative activities as bringing cohesion among the various rival clans and leave the regional politics to politicians alone,” she pointed out.
A female aspirant Mahfudho Haji, who has expressed her candidature for Adamasija MCA in Wajir county who was also present in the meeting urged the electorate to vote for women not because of their gender but their manifestos.
“As one of the female aspirants, I believe the electorate will this time round vote for women because of what they have to offer as stated in their manifestos, and not because of gender,” said the ODM aspirant.