Kenyans have been advised to elect a woman president to realise meaningful development in the country.
Rev Dr Macmillan Kiiru, an Anglican Church clergyman and the Daystar University chairman said on Sunday that women were more focused in delivering services meant to improve lives due to their mothering nature.
He pointed out that women also bring unique qualities and abilities to the work-place and they were stronger when it comes to getting things done.
Dr Kiiru added that women’s flexibility and multitasking abilities would drive the country faster in the right direction.
“Even though there have only been two women presidents in Africa, Kenya should strive to produce the third one come 2017 elections. I would give my vote to a female presidential candidate,” said the clergyman.
His calls may not be farfetched considering that the political landscape in Kenya has significantly changed with more women taking up top leadership position in the public and private sectors.
A survey carried out in March this year by Infotrack Research and Consulting showed that 65 percent of those interviewed would vote for a woman president.
Another research carried out by the same firm in March 2011 had indicated that 60 percent of those interviewed could elect a woman president.
However, in a deviation from the expressions in the survey, the only female presidential candidate in 2013 general election, Martha Karua, got a paltry 0.36 percent of the votes cast.
Previous presidential candidates in Kenya have been Charity Ngilu who ran alongside Prof Wangari Maathai in 1997 as the first women presidential candidates in the history of Kenya’s elections. They lost.
The two were not new in the political arena as they had been members of parliament before.
Nazlin Umar Rajput contested in 2007 as the sole female presidential candidate where she garnered only 0.087 percent of the votes cast.
Political analysts have indicated that even though a majority would prefer a woman for president, women are yet to overcome the hurdles that deny them a chance for successful entry into politics.
Lately, however, there has been increased participation by women in politics thereby improving their political lot in Kenya. The constitution has also put in place measures to mitigate the barriers that hampering women’s success in politics. This includes provision for the one-third presentation of either gender in public positions.