- County now has two women MPs and three women MCAS
- African women have for many years fallen victim in leadership roles in the society.
Image: MATHEWS NDANYI
The August 9 general election bought more elected women into government than in the past, and they scored big in Uasin Gishu county.
There was an increase of one in the women MPs, notably Dr Phyllis Bartoo who was elected on the UDA ticket to represent Moiben constituency.
Janet Sitienei retained her Turbo MP seat on the UDA ticket.
The growth in the number of women holding political seats from the national to the ward level across the country is a clear indication that the society has begun to expand its world view.
It is also expanding its beliefs about women’s competence and ability to lead social, economic and political development of the country.
The number of elected women MCAs increased from two in 2017 to three in 2022.
In the past county assembly, Sarah Malel of Kimumu was elected on the Jubilee ticket and Lucy Ng’endo Chomba of Huruma ward who won a by-election following the death of her husband Peter Chomba in 2020.
In 2022 Chomba lost the seat, Malel was reelected while Mary Gorreti Boroswa who had served as a nominated MCA in Uasin Gishu clinched the Kipsomba ward seat in Soy on a UDA ticket.
At the same time, Rebecca Chepchirchir, who had served in the first county assembly from 2013 to 2017 made it again to the corridors of power by winning the Kuinet-Kapsuswa ward MCA seat.
Her win increased the number of elected women MCAs to three from across all 30 wards in Uasin Gishu
African women have for many years fallen victim in leadership roles in the society.
They have been perceived as vulnerable and incapable of taking up and delivering in high-end and leadership jobs in many spheres.
As a result of the efforts by advocacy groups who have consistently championed the rights of women, African women have been demanding equity and leadership.
They are now calling upon authorities to implement reasonable policies and legislations to empower women to overcome obstacles blocking their quest for political seats.
Problems include deep-rooted patriarchy and and systemic discrimination, which obstruct women’s rise to power.
(Edited by V. Graham)