UN Women Kenya and Echo Network Africa (ENA) signed a one-year partnership agreement that seeks to increase the number of women elected in the August 2022 general elections, and support women participation in sustaining peace and cohesion in the country.

“To be able to achieve our objective of attaining more women in leadership in Kenya, we need to collectively ensure that the environment is conducive, peaceful, and secure,” said Anna Mutavati, UN Women Kenya Country Representative.

Supported by the Government of Canada, the project will also benefit women leaders under African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) and will target nine counties which are known hot spots for electoral violence including gender-based violence: Kirinyaga, Kisumu, Kwale, Mombasa, Nakuru, Turkana, Kitui, Marsabit, and Garissa. These counties also have low level representation of women in elective positions.

Ms Mutavati added, “violence against women in elections is one of the key deterrents to women’s political participation, hence we must work together to ensure a safe and conducive environment for women aspirants to contend, one that is also equally secure for voters to cast their vote in peace.”

Women comprised just 9.2% of the 1,835 elected individuals in 2017. In addition to seats designated to female candidates, women constituted 23.3% of the National Assembly. This is still below the constitution threshold of 30% and further below the SDG target of 50%.

According to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) statistics, only 1.5% of female youth participated as candidates compared to 22.1% of their male youth counterparts. Out of these, only 1% of young women were elected in various political seats compared to 15.8% of the male youth.

ENA, the hosts of AWLN will mobilize women to elevate the status of women’s leadership in peace and security through the Women Mediation Network.

“As we move forward our most critical area of focus will be to not only ensure that more women access political leadership but that also we remain actively engaged in stabilizing the country. This is why strengthening of the Kenyan Women Mediators network is so critical,” explained Dr. Jennifer Riria, Group CEO of ENA.

Ms Anna Mutavati reiterated UN Women’s commitment to supporting Kenya implement its constitutional commitment to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women. “We remain committed to supporting and advocating for an inclusive and coordinated approach to address the complex issues such as women’s engagement in governance, ending violence against women and promoting inclusive peace and security.