Women Participation in Elective Leadership Positions in Homa Bay Town and Rangwe Constituencies of Homa Bay County, Kenya
The factors that affect women’s participation in leadership roles are different across the world, changing with the dynamic nature of the environments in which they live. Women within a particular society are affected by: the business environment, fundamental social and developmental considerations like education, economic factors and the level of development of a country, technological levels, political rights and civil liberties within a country. Despite efforts made to ensure that women participate in elective leadership positions, women were still under represented particularly in political positions of power and leadership in Homabay and Rangwe constituencies. The study focused on women participation on elective leadership positions, where in the year 2007 and 2013 general elections, no single woman, was elected in political positions, in Homa Bay Town and Rangwe Constituencies in Homa Bay County within the Republic of Kenya. The objectives of the study were, to establish community attitudes towards women participation in elective leadership positions, to establish whether cultural beliefs/practices affected women’s participation in elective leadership positions, and to determine how family structures and set-up influenced women participation in elective leadership positions in Homa Bay Town and Rangwe Constituencies, Kenya. The study established that there were minimal negative community attitudes towards women participation in elective leadership positions such as women being perceived to be weak to handle political campaigns and were also poor political mobilizers. It was also establish that to a small extent women culturally faulted when participating in elective leadership positions. Family structures and set were established to have minimal influence on women participation in elective leadership positions. Further, it was established most women did not support their colleagues who were aspirants for elective leadership positions. Women were also found to be victims of political thuggery, intimidation and frustrations from male counterparts.
Rangwe, Homabay, Women Participation, Elective Leadership
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