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Opinion: Gender based electoral violence in Kenya |
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Written by Education Centre for Women in Democracy
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 Would you like to contest for a parliamentary seat? If one is to pose this question to the majority of women in Kenya the response is likely to get a resounding No! It is not that women are uninterested in actively participating in politics or transforming the societies that they live in, but the face a raft of stumbling blocks in their quest for declaring interest in and seeking political seats.
There are several documented factors that hamper women’s accession to leadership and explain their disproportionate representation in public life - one such reason being Gender Based Violence (GBV) in elections. GBV, used in this sense means any sexual, psychological, or physical harm or suffering to women including threats of such acts. GBV in Kenyan elections, has historically and consistently, been meted out to women by the community, media and male leaders who seek to discredit women candidates in the eyes of society. GBV is a direct result and an extension of inequality, intolerance and the prevailing culture of impunity towards violence against women in general. Consequently, many women do not offer their candidature for political seats out of fear of intimidation, insults and physical violence. Politics has been reduced to a dirty game where illegal and unethical tactics are employed by the sponsors of violence to enable them enter the corridors of power, the reason why many women opt out of engaging in this hostile environment. Those who dare to contest for political seats more often than not are subjected to various humiliating and damaging forms of GBV; many of which go unreported. The approach of Kenya’s General elections in 2007 is imminent and it calls for urgent action against GBV and especially towards women candidates. It is a well-known fact that the upcoming elections are likely to be a hotly contested race given the lucrative nature of today’s parliament. It is also uncontestable that in any election period (nomination and general election) various unsavory tactics and violence are employed to secure a win – in many cases women candidates are often the most vulnerable and likely to be the injured parties. As such it will take the collective action from the government, the Electoral Commission of Kenya, Civil Society actors, the Kenya police and community members to advocate for the principled electoral procedures with a strong sense of fairness and justice. Although the Election Offences Act does offer some reprieve and hope for women candidates in that it criminalizes certain activities carried out in relation to elections as such as voter bribery; this law does not sufficiently address the issue of GBV. Additionally, the Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) needs to incorporate into their codes, rules, regulations and voter education curriculum, the issue of GBV in elections for women to be guaranteed safety during elections. The pervasive and disturbing nature of GBV in elections also calls for a paradigm shift from traditional voter preparation initiatives that have been used in the past. There is need to embrace basic training in human rights, responsible citizenship and public accountability in an effort to instill to all citizens that both men and women have an alienable right to exercise their political and civil rights. We all have a role to play in changing the face of elections in this country especially in relation to election violence; let us all take a stand and reject electoral violence and intimidation of women candidates and voters.
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