Several women poll losers have developed mental problems.
Community Advocacy and Awareness Trust executive director Daisy Amdany said some of them are depressed due to the nasty experiences during the electioneering period.
Amdany said CRAWN Trust had initiated a therapy programme to help them recover from their experiences.
She said some were physically, mentally and socially abused during campaigns.
“We have mental health specialists who are working with us in the wellness sessions. We are walking with these women, training and encouraging them,” Amdany said.
“We have an economic empowerment strategy to put money into their pockets.”
The executive director spoke on Wednesday during a National Women Dialogue Forum in Nairobi.
The forum was attended by more than 100 women participants drawn from women's rights organisations, grassroots organisations, academic institutions, state institutions and community representatives.
Amdany termed them women warriors for taking part in politics.
She, however, said though there were some improvements in women joining politics, more efforts were needed to achieve the two-thirds gender rule.
“This meeting was a dialogue to reflect on how women performed in the elections. There has been lots of excitement about more women taking part in politics but more needs to be done,” Amdany said.
The executive director doubles as the Kenya Women Steering Committee national chairperson, an umbrella organisation of NGOs dealing with women's issues.
“We have been clamouring for the two-thirds gender principle for full implementation. We were excited because in 2017 Katiba Institute got a court order compelling IEBC to ensure that parties meet two–thirds gender principle,” she said.
“This time several women made it to the ballot.”
She said there were improvements compared to 2017.
“We got higher numbers of women to the National Assembly. In 2017 we had 23 elected women but we now we have 29 of them. However, we have not met the minimum threshold of a third,” Amdany said.
"In the Senate, there was not much improvement. Three women were elected. Susan Kihika is now the Nakuru Governor. We are still at three,” Amdany said.
She said women had exemplarily performed in the position of governor raising the numbers from three in 2017 to seven.
The executive director said though there had been improvements, the numbers needed to rise given the fact that it is now 12 years since the promulgation of the 2010 Constitution.
Amdany said they were going to push for several reforms including electoral, and political, and come up with litigations to compel Parliament to put in place legislations that provide better fields for women, youth and persons with disabilities.
“Article 100, Section 81(b) and (c) have no supporting legislations. So, it makes it much more difficult, we need these legislations to be put in place,” she said.
Amdany said political parties should desist from being individuals’ properties and become compliant with the constitutional principles.
“Let’s make our multi-party democracy vibrant by demanding that our parties become institutions of governance and accountable to the people,” she said.
They are paid with taxpayers’ money. We have a right to participate, we need to start getting more involved and demand better from parties.”
Edited by Kiilu Damaris
