Women leaders have risen up to the occasion and have grabbed top posts across the country in the recently concluded election. Nakuru and Machakos counties emerged as the two counties with women dominating the top posts in the 2022 Election.
Since the implementation of a devolved government, and the introduction of the constitutionally mandated gender quota rule in 2010, there has been a gradual improvement in reducing male dominance in positions of power.
The winds are blowing fast toward women’s political leadership, an example set by Nakuru and Machakos which seems the debut for women engaging in Political representation in Kenya this time round.
Nakuru County has been the first to record a vast engagement of women in political representation in various posts in the county government, as per the 2022 elections, with eight Women taking up all posts from MCA to the governor.
Nakuru county’s top elective posts will be occupied by women; Governor Susan Kihika, Senator Tabitha Karanja, and Woman Representative Liza Chelle.
Kihika garnered 440,707 votes under a UDA ticket, edging her closest competitor and incumbent Governor Lee Kinyanjui who managed 225,623 votes.
Governor Susan will however be deputized by David Kones.
The incoming Senator, Tabitha floored her closest rival Lawrence Karanja of Jubilee to win the Senatorial seat, after attaining 442,864 votes compared to Karanja’s 163,625 votes.
Out of the Nakuru county’s 11 constituencies, four will be led by female MPs including, Charity Kathambi (Njoro), Martha Wangari (Gilgil), Irene Njoki (Bahati), and Jayne Kihara (Naivasha).
Whereas, Machakos county’s next government will include Governor Wavinya Ndeti, Senator Agnes Kavindu, and Woman Representative Joyce Kamene Kasimbi.
However, Ndeti will be deputized by a male counterpart, Francis Mwangangi.
The former Transport and Infrastructure Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS), Ndeti was on Saturday morning pronounced the Machakos governor-elect after garnering 226,609 votes under a Wiper ticket.
Meanwhile, Kavindu of the Wiper Party defended her senatorial seat after garnering 155,883 votes downing his male opponent Urbanus Muthama, who managed only 65,606 votes.
Woman Representative-elect Joyce Kamene Kasimbi also retained her seat, having bagged 253,106 votes out of the 413,875 votes cast.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) says the number of registered female voters currently stands at 49%.
Additionally, women constitute 50.5% of the population, according to the 2019 census.
Very few female leaders, however, hold actual elective positions in Kenya despite the government introducing a constitutionally mandated gender quota rule in 2010 with an aim of toning down the patriarchal dominance in positions of leadership.
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The surge in the number of women leaders has seen Kenyans on social media reacting with excitement and questioning the capability of male leaders.
