Women political leaders, Members of County Assemblies from across Kenya’s 47 counties and political aspirants have called for a united front to address barriers to women’s political participation ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The leaders made the call during the G7 National Women Leadership Forum held at Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi under the theme, “Catalyzing Women’s Leadership for 2027 and Beyond.” The forum was convened by the Council of Governors Women Caucus, popularly known as G7.
Kirinyaga Governor and former Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru said achieving gender parity in leadership was a constitutional obligation and a matter of fairness, not a political favour.
She noted that 16 years after the promulgation of the Constitution, the two-thirds gender principle enshrined in Articles 27 and 81 remained unfulfilled, urging women leaders to unite in pushing for legislation to address the imbalance.
Waiguru called for the passage of the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill No. 29, sponsored by Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss, Beatrice Elachi and Jane Kihara, as well as Senate Bill No. 16 of 2025, sponsored by Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot.
“These bills, my dear sisters, are not favours. They are unfinished unconstitutional business. They are the legal expression of a moral truth that a nation who silences half of its talent impoverishes itself,” Waiguru said.
Looking beyond the 2027 elections, she announced her intention to contest the presidency in 2032, saying greater representation of women in the country’s highest office would help open doors for future generations of female leaders.
Homa Bay Governor and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) chairperson Gladys Wanga said financial constraints remained among the biggest obstacles facing women seeking elective positions.
She called for a nationwide, cross-party strategy to mentor female aspirants and provide them with the resources needed to compete effectively.
“There is no way you will be elected if you don’t take the risk. And if you don’t take the risk, there is no way you will know whether you can be elected,” Wanga said.
She urged women leaders to work together to address challenges that discourage female candidates, particularly inadequate campaign financing and limited access to political networks.
The forum also highlighted divisions among women themselves, with participants acknowledging that internal competition and a lack of solidarity often weaken their collective influence in politics.
Nairobi Woman Representative Esther Passaris echoed the call for greater unity, pointing to the declining representation of elected women in major political positions in the capital across recent election cycles.
Passaris advocated for a more inclusive political system and regional rotation of the presidency, arguing that leadership should reflect Kenya’s diversity.
“Leaving aside the struggle for 2027, I want Governor Wanga to be the President of Kenya in 2032. And I would like the Mountain to rally behind Governor Wanga because we need to rotate that seat so that Kenya becomes inclusive. We need to rotate that seat,” she said.
Organisers said structured mentorship programmes and cross-party support networks were essential to helping aspiring female candidates overcome high campaign costs, political isolation and other systemic barriers.
The day-long forum featured expert-led sessions by CRAWN Trust Executive Director Daisy Amdany and panel discussions led by Badili Africa Executive Director Bina Maseno.
The meeting concluded with the adoption of a joint communiqué, read by Council of Governors Chief Executive Officer Mary Mwiti, outlining the leaders’ shared commitment to advancing women’s political participation and leadership.
By Lilian Gichohi
