Garissa women leaders at a past function. Most of the parties in the area have nomiinated women to take various positions.] (Photo/ twitter.com/asmali77)Different political parties in the Garissa, Mandera and Wajir Counties had nominated women candidates after failing to support them during the last general election.
The move comes after the parties failed to meet to two thirds gender rule during the polls. The parties fronted women in four different wards but none of them won.
The wards where women contested are Waberi, Iftin, Sangailu and Township. According to political analysts, the women failed to garner enough votes that could enable win the seats because of the cultural beliefs.
It is believed that politics is a game of men and the few women who attempt to contest met resistance and abuses from different groups.
Saretho Mohamed (Sangailu), Mulki Warsame (Iftin), Qureisha Mohamed (Waberi) and Wangechi Gichuki (Township) are among the few women who contested during the August General elections.
The same situation was also witnessed in both Mandera and Wajir counties where women were floored by men with huge margins.
The three North Eastern counties have been compelled to nominate 15 women. NGO Womankind Kenya director Abdullahi Mohamed said that time has come for women to be given a chance to take part in politics.
“We need to embrace the capacity of an individual, irrespective of that person’s gender. We should judge each individual according to his or her performance. It will take some time to see women get an equal playing field,” he said.