Women’s Representation in County Assemblies: A Study on Kenya’s Elected County Assembly Members
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.4335/20.4.1035-1055(2022)Keywords:
county assemblies, devolution, gender mainstreaming, representation, social backgroundAbstract
Local governments offer opportunities for diverse groups of women in political participation, as well as their roles as local leaders in ensuring sustainable development. Within the context of gender mainstreaming, this study examined how the backgrounds of women such as social status, pre-elective occupations, age, educational background and religion, contributed to their access to legislative roles within Kenya’s county assemblies. Using the 2013 and 2017 election data, results showed that of the five variables, the religious background of women had the lowest effect on their election and legislative participation. Though there are constitutional and institutional structures put in place to promote women participation in elective politics, there’s still need for enhanced awareness on the legislative and decision-making role of elected women leaders. This study contributes to a comprehensive view of women’s political participation and a narrative shift from national to local decision-making power, which is a critical level of governance.
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Vyas-Doorgapersad, S. (2017) Gender mainstreaming in local economic development processes: A South African perspective, International Journal of Economics and Finance Studies, 9(2), pp. 167-180.
Arubayi, D. O. & Arubayi, D. O. (2016) Beyond the MDGs: inclusion, participation and the reality of gender development in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), International Journal of Development Research, 6(3), pp. 7228-7234.
Asiyati, L. C. (2016) Women in Local Government: A Potential Arena for Women’s Substantive Representation, CMI Brief, 15(13), available at: https://www.cmi.no/publications/file/5930-women-in-local-governmentpotential-malawi.pdf (September 7, 2022).
Khan, A. & Naqvi, S. (2020) Dilemmas of representation: Women in Pakistan’s assemblies, Asian Affairs, 51(2), pp. 286-306, https://doi.org/10.1080/03068374.2020.1748414.
Bari, F. (2005) Women’s Political Participation: Issues and Challenges, Expert Group Meeting (Bangkok: United Nations, Division for the Advancement of Women (DAW)).
Barriteau, E. (2003) Issues and Challenges of Caribbean Feminism, Agenda, Empowering Women for Gender Equality, 17(58), pp. 37-44.
Biegon, J. (ed.) (2016) Gender and Political Processes in Kenya (Nairobi: Strathmore University).
Cottrell, J. (2015) Women’s rights and the constitution (September 19, 2015) (Katiba Institute), available at: http://www.katibainstitute.org/womens-rights-and-theconstitution-by-jill-cottrell-ghai (October 17, 2021).
Eme, O. I. & Anyadike, N. O. (2014) Political Financing in Africa: A Comparative Study of Kenya and Nigeria: Proposal for Reform, Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(5), pp. 22-34.
Fourth World Conference on Women (FWCW) Platform for Action (1995) Women in Power and Decision–Making, available at: www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/beijing/platform/decision/htm (May 13, 2022).
Hassan, M. (1999) Local Governance Study: Bangladesh (London: One World Action).
Hay, K. (2012) Engendering Policies and Programmes through Feminist Evaluation: Opportunities and Insights, Indian Journal of Gender Studies, 19(2), pp. 321-340.
Ilesanmi, O. O. (2018) Women’s Visibility in Decision Making Processes in Africa - Progress, Challenges, and Way Forward, Frontiers in Sociology, 3(38), pp. 1-7, https://doi.org/10.3389%2Ffsoc.2018.00038.
Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission, Kenya 2013 and 2017 Election results, available at: https://www.iebc.or.ke/election/?election-results (December 3, 2021).
Jayal, G. N (2005) From Representation to Participation: Women in Local Government (New Delhi: Nehru University).
Johnson, D., Kabachu, H. & Kayonga, S. V. (2003) Women in Ugandan Local Government: The Impact of Affirmative Action, Gender and Development, 11(3), pp. 8-19.
Kadaga, R. (2013) Women’s political leadership in East Africa with specific reference to Uganda (Commonwealth Secretariat).
Kamlongera, A. P. (2008) Malawian women’s participation in State politics: what are the constraints?, Gender and Development, 16(3), pp. 471- 480.
Nsubuga, J. K. & Olum, Y. (2009) Local Governance and Local Democracy in Uganda, Commonwealth Journal of Local Governance (2), pp. 26-43, available at: https:// www.researchgate.net/publication/267856004 (September 8, 2022).
Kameri-Mbote, P. (2016) The quest for equal gender representation in Kenya’s Parliament: Past and present challenges, In: Biegon, J. (ed.) Gender and Political Processes in Kenya (Nairobi: Strathmore University), pp. 39-66.
Kenyan Government (2010) Constitution of Kenya (Nairobi: Government Printer).
Khan, M.R. & Ara, F. (2006) Women, Participation and Empowerment in Local Government: The Bangladesh Union Parishad Perspective, Asian Affairs, 29(1), pp. 73–92.
Kurebwa, J. (2014) Rural women’s representation and participation in local governance in the Masvingo and Mashonaland Central Provinces of Zimbabwe, IOSR Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 19(12), pp. 125-132, https://doi.org/10.9790/0837-19124125132.
Mahapatro, M. (2014) Mainstreaming gender: Shift from advocacy to policy, Vision, 18(4), pp. 309-315.
Nazneen, S. & Tasneem, S. (2010) A Silver lining: Women in Reserved seats in Local Government in Bangladesh, IDS Bulletin, 41(5), pp. 35-42, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1759-5436.2010.00164.x.
Opare, S. (2005) Engaging Women in Community Decision-making Processes in Rural Ghana: Problems and Prospects, Development in Practice 15(1), pp. 90–99.
Panday, P.K. (2008) Representation without Participation: Quotas for Women in Bangladesh, International Political Science Review, 29(4), pp. 489-512.
Quadir, S.R. (1994) Participation of Women at the Local Level Politics: Problems and Prospects, In: Chowdhury, N., Begum, H. A., Mahmuda, I., & Mahtab, N. (eds.) Women and Politics (Dhaka: Women for women), pp.1-14.
UN WOMEN (2018) Women’s Political Participation in Local Government, International Knowledge Network of Women in Politics (iKNOW POLITICS).
Vyas-Doorgapersad, S. (2017) Gender mainstreaming in local economic development processes: A South African perspective, International Journal of Economics and Finance Studies, 9(2), pp. 167-180.
Published
2022-11-02
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