Female Kenyan politicians [Photo/Nation]
An NGO, Women and Youths Association (WAY) has said that women who are seeking elective posts are facing discrimination and intimidation by their male counterparts.
WAY CEO Ms. Susan Mangera on Thursday argued that women are being intimidated and insulted during political rallies ahead of the August 8 polls.
“Men don’t give women aspirants space to sell their agenda to the public. We urge them to respect and accept women the way they are despite their weakness,” she said as reported by The Big Issue News.
"Among the intimidation women are facing include; destruction of campaign materials, mounting their posters above those of women aspirants while some opponents pull down advertisements of female aspirants,"she lamented.
She pointed out Nairobi County as among the regions women have faced a lot of intimidation.
She said that women leadership is better compared to men who have now feared women competing them.
“Out of 89 women vying for various seats in Nairobi County, only 13 were nominated during political parties’ primaries, representing nine percent,” she said.
She urged the media to give female aspirants the same prominence as male contestants.
“They only cover prominent women who have high ranks in government and have been in politics for long. New comers into the game are not recognized and media has no time for them,” said Ms Mangera.