Political parties have been urged to conduct free, fair and credible nominations that give women, youth and persons with disabilities (PWDs) equal opportunities to participate in the 2027 General Election.
The call was made during an engagement organised by UK International Development, FIDA-Kenya and the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA), bringing together women, youth and PWD leagues from various political parties to discuss gender-responsive nomination rules in Mombasa.
Discussions sought to examine existing electoral and nomination rules, identify provisions that may limit women’s participation and promote practical measures to make nominations more inclusive while ensuring safer political participation.
The forum also focused on measures to prevent and address sexual harassment in politics and generate practical recommendations for strengthening gender-responsive nomination processes within political parties.
FIDA-Kenya Executive Director (ED) Sophie Kaibiria said political parties play a critical role in determining access to political leadership through their internal structures, nomination processes and candidate selection mechanisms.
Kaibiria noted that the extent to which party rules and practices are gender-responsive directly influences women’s opportunities to participate in politics and compete for elective positions.
She lamented that women continue to face barriers in political processes, including discriminatory practices and limited access to political opportunities and resources, as well as the risk of harassment and violence.
The ED emphasised that party nomination processes are particularly important because they determine who proceeds to the electoral stage. She noted that the constitutional principle requiring that no more than two-thirds of members of elective public bodies be of the same gender provides an important framework for advancing women’s representation.
“Political parties also have a role in integrating gender considerations within their internal structures and nomination processes,” she stated.
Kaibiria said FIDA-Kenya was keen on strengthening institutions to enable more women to participate in elective politics.
“If we have proper mechanisms within these institutions, then it means that when we go into politics, women will be catered for in terms of governance, equal participation and inclusivity,” she said.
Christabella Barasa, an ELGIA official, said the three-year programme, supported by the British High Commission, aims to strengthen accountability and political systems in Kenya.
“The agenda that we are advocating is shifting the narrative from personality-driven or ethnic-based politics to issue-based politics,” Ms Barasa said, urging political parties to incorporate issue-based politics into their blueprints.
Participants shared experiences from their respective party structures and proposed practical recommendations to improve nomination processes.
Wiper Patriotic Front Mombasa Coordinator Millicent Odhiambo underscored the importance of the engagement, noting that participants had an opportunity to examine nomination laws and explore ways to promote equity and equality.
She said many women, youth and PWDs remain locked out of party primaries, limiting their chances of contesting elective positions.
Ms Odhiambo maintained that political parties are the foundation of leadership and called for women, youth and PWDs to be involved in decision-making within party structures. She also urged members of the three groups to vie for elective positions to increase their chances of being elected.
“This session is timely and an eye-opener. It enables us to examine ourselves and ask direct questions of our parties so that changes can be instituted before 2027. Without that, we will remain in the dark, forever aspiring to lead and begging,” she said.
Beatrice Gambo, Jubilee Party Deputy Leader and an aspirant for the Kisauni parliamentary seat, echoed Odhiambo’s sentiments, urging women, youth and PWDs to contest elective positions.
She pledged to take the lessons learnt during the engagement to the Jubilee Party National Executive Committee to push for changes that would ensure credible nominations.
“My appeal is not only to my party, Jubilee, but to all political parties: let us not turn parties into businesses. Let us not use parties to collect nomination fees without the intention of conducting credible nominations that give women, youth and PWDs an opportunity to vie for positions on party tickets,” she stated.
By Sadik Hassan
