The struggle for greater gender equality in Kenya’s political arena appears to be yielding fruit, with more female candidates winning leadership positions in the recent national elections.
The number of women elected to various positions during the August 2022 elections increased to 194 from 179 in 2017. Seven incoming governors are women, more than doubling from three elected in 2017. Additionally, 26 women were elected as members of parliament, up from 23 in the last election.
Women’s political participation is changing and the high number of candidates is part of a rising trend over the past few years. A total of 43 women contested for senate in 26 counties and 225 women vied for parliamentary seats in 152 constituencies. The success rate is now almost at par with that of male contestants. Overall, women’s representation in the national assembly has risen by 40% in the last 20 years.
Nakuru county leads with the highest number of women in parliament — four in the 11 constituencies, accounting for 36.4%. In Lamu county, one woman was elected out of the two available slots.
