KISUMU, Oct 2026 — With the 2027 General Election less than a year away, a coalition of women’s civic organizations has condemned escalating cases of violence, intimidation and humiliation targeting women seeking elective office in Kisumu and Kisii.
Operating under the umbrella of Women of Kenya in All Our Diversity, the groups said using violence to silence women is unacceptable and undermines their participation in leadership and democracy.
The condemnation follows two incidents: the assault of Linda Ogweno, a Linda Mwananchi candidate for Kisumu Woman Representative, who was attacked by youths armed with machetes on Tuesday, October 20, at a funeral in Nyamasaria after sharing her political views; and the heckling and physical humiliation of Dr July Nyamao while addressing a gathering in Kisii.
In a statement released Friday in Kisumu, the coalition declared that no woman should be attacked for expressing her political opinion or exercising her constitutional rights.
“Our solidarity with Dr Nyamao and Linda Ogweno goes beyond political parties. Women’s safety, dignity and democratic rights are non-negotiable. Kenya cannot claim to be democratic while women are assaulted for seeking leadership,” the statement read.
The groups also rejected victim-blaming, insisting that a woman’s political stand, affiliation or presence at a public event can never justify violence.
Recounting her ordeal during a press briefing, Ms Ogweno said she was attacked after advocating for the one-term ‘wantam’ agenda at the burial of Eunice Adongo at Nyamasaria Primary School.
“As I left, a group of youths assaulted me. Video of the attack is circulating online. I have continued to receive threats on Facebook and WhatsApp, even after reporting to police in Kisumu,” she said.
She emphasized that political differences do not warrant violence, citing Articles 29, 33, 36 and 38 of the Constitution, which guarantee freedom, security, expression, association and political rights. She noted the assault violates Section 251 of the Penal Code, while online threats contravene Section 27 of the Computer Misuse and Cybercrimes Act, 2018.
Ogweno also linked the rising culture of extortion ‘Gonya’ and violence against female aspirants to offences under Section 302 of the Penal Code and Section 11 of the Election Offences Act, 2016.
Ogweno issued four demands: that the National Police Service and DCI investigate, preserve footage and prosecute the perpetrators under Article 244; that police conduct threat assessments and protect aspirants; that the IEBC and Registrar of Political Parties enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct and Political Parties Code of Conduct against candidates whose supporters use violence or extortion; and that KEWOPA, FIDA-Kenya and KEFEADO continue documenting threats against women candidates.
The civic bodies further called on the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to investigate any party links to the incidents and enforce the Political Parties Act, 2011, specifically First Schedule paragraphs 5 and 7, with sanctions under Section 45 including suspension or withholding of funds where warranted.
They also urged the NCIC and other agencies to promote tolerance and protect women’s political participation, and called on leaders across the political divide to unequivocally condemn political violence.
“Women’s participation is central to a just, inclusive and representative democracy,” the statement said. “Our voices are not a threat to democracy. They are democracy in action.”
The statement was endorsed by Kisumu Social Inclusion Network, KEFEADO, Talanta Africa, LARWHER, The Sister Darling Movement, Her Ink Theory and Young Women’s Leadership Institute.
