Women leaders push for greater representation in government

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru during a high-level strategic meeting convened by the Council of Governors’ G7 leadership in Nairobi on October 13, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERA

Women leaders have called on political parties to increase women’s representation in government.

They are demanding mentorship, financial support and more opportunities to compete for senior positions ahead of the 2027 General Election.

At a strategic meeting in Nairobi convened by the Council of Governors’ G7 leadership, the leaders urged women already in power to support aspiring politicians and push for the implementation of the constitutional requirement that neither gender should occupy more than two-thirds of elective and appointive positions.

Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga challenged women in senior positions to devote more time to mentoring emerging leaders.

She said individual success would mean little if others continued to face barriers to political advancement.

“We haven’t created enough time to walk the journey with our sisters who are coming up, to mentor them, to hold their hands,” Wanga said.

She called on women in Parliament, county governments and political parties to work across political divides and develop a national strategy to support female candidates, particularly those struggling to finance competitive campaigns.

Wanga proposed fundraising initiatives to support grassroots meetings where aspiring women politicians could share experiences, receive mentorship and discuss the challenges they face.

She also challenged political parties to consider women for running-mate positions in 2027, arguing that they should not be excluded from senior political offices.

Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru urged women to actively pursue leadership opportunities rather than wait to be invited into decision-making spaces.

“I believe that if we had more women in government, the government would do a lot better,” she said.

Waiguru argued that women had the skills and experience required to compete for senior positions.

She challenged those questioning their suitability for leadership.

“What is it that they have that I don’t have? Which journey have they walked that I haven’t walked?” she posed.

She declared her interest in deputising President William Ruto if an opportunity arose in 2027.

She also announced plans to contest the presidency in 2032, when her tenure as governor will have ended.

The meeting also focused on proposals to address the persistent gender imbalance in Parliament, 16 years after the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.

The leaders urged women lawmakers to support two proposed laws aimed at implementing the two-thirds gender rule.

The Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill Number 29, co-sponsored by Deputy National Assembly Speaker Gladys Shollei, Beatrice Elachi and Jane Kagiri, proposes additional seats to help meet the threshold.

Senate Bill Number 16 of 2025, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, also seeks to establish mechanisms to increase women’s representation.

Both proposals provide for special top-up seats after elections to ensure neither gender exceeds two-thirds of the membership of the respective Houses.

Waiguru urged leaders across political formations to support the proposals, saying responsibility for achieving gender balance should not rest solely on women lawmakers.

Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau highlighted government policies supporting women’s leadership, while participants called for stronger practical support for women seeking positions ranging from county assemblies to the presidency.

The scale of the challenge is reflected in the 2022 elections, when 201 women were elected to Kenya’s 1,882 elective seats, according to UN Women’s Kenya country report.

HomaBay governor Gladys Wanga addressing a forum organised by the Council of Governors’ G7 leadership in Nairobi on October 13, 2026/ ALICE WAITHERA