Mombasa, Oct 2026 -The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) is calling on political parties to strengthen their internal systems and invest in building the capacity of women aspirants and representatives from women’s, youth and persons with disabilities (PWD) leagues to promote fair and inclusive participation in the 2027 General Elections.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, 14 October, FIDA-Kenya Chairperson Christine Kungu noted that the organisation had been actively engaging political parties on gender-responsive election and nomination rules, women’s leadership, inclusive decision-making, and measures to prevent and respond to sexual harassment, political intimidation and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
One such engagement, held in Kisumu County on 7 October 2026, highlighted a key concern: women aspirants and representatives of party leagues have limited capacity to navigate party structures, understand nomination procedures and effectively advance women’s representation.
“This reality points to the need for practical support that equips women with the knowledge and skills to participate in party decision-making, pursue elective positions and understand the processes for addressing nomination-related grievances,” Kungu said.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) report underscores the wider challenge. The Women’s Political Participation and Leadership Final Report: Kenya Assessment, published in 2023, found that women accounted for only 12.18% (1,962) of the 16,100 candidates cleared to contest in the 2022 General Elections.
According to FIDA-Kenya, the report identifies persistent social and institutional barriers that undermine women’s political participation and leadership. While these figures do not establish capacity as the sole cause of women’s underrepresentation, they reinforce the need to address barriers within political parties alongside broader social and structural inequalities.
On TFGBV, FIDA-Kenya’s 2022 Election Sexual Gender-Based Violence (ESGBV) report found that 52% of SGBV cases documented across Kenya involved online violence. This finding highlights the significant threat that TFGBV poses to women’s safety and meaningful participation in electoral processes.
The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, provides a clear basis for action. Article 27 guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination; Article 81(b) establishes the principle that no more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender.
“Article 91 sets out the basic requirements for political parties, including democratic principles and respect for gender equality and equity; and Article 100 calls for legislative measures to promote the representation of women, persons with disabilities, youth, ethnic and other minorities, and marginalised communities.”
Political parties now have an important opportunity to translate these obligations into practice as they prepare their election and nomination rules for the 2027 electoral cycle.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has set 16 October 2026 as the deadline for submitting these rules, with certification expected by 30 October 2026 and submission to the IEBC by 6 November 2026.
In light of the above, FIDA-Kenya calls on political parties to invest in women’s capacity-building.
“This will equip women aspirants and league representatives with practical knowledge of party constitutions, election and nomination rules, leadership structures, campaign processes and avenues for resolving nomination disputes.”
The women’s and children’s rights body also calls for the establishment of structured mentorship and information-sharing mechanisms to prepare women to compete for elective positions and participate meaningfully in party decision-making.
“Ensure that rules and procedures are transparent, accessible, gender-responsive and consistent with constitutional equality and non-discrimination obligations.”
To strengthen prevention and accountability mechanisms, Ms Kungu emphasised the need to put in place accessible, trusted procedures for reporting and addressing sexual harassment, political intimidation and TFGBV, with appropriate referral and follow-up arrangements.
She further pointed out that women’s, youth and PWD leagues should be involved in reviewing nomination procedures, identifying barriers and monitoring the implementation of party commitments on gender inclusion.
FIDA-Kenya reiterates that strengthening women’s political leadership requires more than formally opening opportunities to contest. Women must have the knowledge, practical support and institutional backing needed to navigate party processes and compete fairly.
As political parties prepare for the 2027 General Elections, investing in the capacity of women aspirants and league representatives is essential to making internal party processes more inclusive and advancing meaningful women’s representation.
