Every election year sees women vie for various political seats in a bid to increase the number of women in the political arena, which has for long been dominated by men.
Last year was no exception especially in Kisumu County, where five women were elected Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
The number, however, dropped from seven in the 2013 general election.
Here is a list of female elected MCAs in Kisumu County.
1. Prisca Auma Misachi managed to retain the Shauri Moyo/Kaloleni Ward MCA seat after garnering a total of 5,703 votes. She beat four other candidates, among them former nominated MCA Farida Ahmed Salim. Shauri Moyo/Kaloleni Ward is located in Kisumu Central Constituency.
2. Newcomer Pamela Akinyi Odhiambo (nominated in 2013) managed to unseat Nereah Akoth Okombo in the Manyatta B ward. Okombo was defending her seat as an independent candidate after losing to Odhiambo in the ODM party primaries. Manyatta B is one of the five wards in Kisumu East Constituency.
3. Judith Atieno Ogaga defeated a crowded field of seven other candidates to win the Central Kisumu Ward seat. The ward is located in Kisumu West Constituency.
4. Maureen Anyango Opondo Otyang emerged the winner in Chemelil Ward, Muhoroni Constituency. She bagged 7,265 votes to defeat the other eight candidates who were in the race.
5. In Central Seme Ward, Seme Constituency, Sally Achieng Okudo beat three other contenders, two of who were men, to be crowned the new MCA.
No female MCA was elected in Nyando and Nyakach constituencies.
Kisumu County has a total of seven constituencies and 35 wards.