Why Nakuru’s all-female top leadership is causing excitement

Nakuru County has, going by the already announced results so far, set itself apart from other devolved units at this year's General Election by being the region with the highest number of women who have successfully been elected into office.

Despite nearly half of registered voters in the country being women, very few female leaders actually hold elective positions in Kenya.

This is in spite of the government introducing a constitutionally mandated gender quota rule in 2010 in a bid to tone down male dominance in positions of power.

The tides might however be turning for the better if the example being set by Nakuru is anything to go by.

As it stands, eight women who contested for various seats in the county - right from the topmost, office of the Governor - at the August polls are currently awaiting to be sworn into office.

They are: Susan Kihika (Governor), Tabitha Karanja (Senator), Liza Chelule (Woman Rep), Charity Kathambi (Njoro MP), Martha Wangari (Gilgil MP), Irene Njoki (Bahati MP), Grace Mwathi (Bahati MCA) and Jayne Kihara (Naivasha MP).

Only 6 men have so far managed to emerge victorious in Nakuru's elections.

They are MPs Samuel Arama (Nakuru West), David Gikaria (Nakuru East), Samuel Gachobe (Subukia), Kuria Kimani (Molo), Alfred Mutai (Kuresoi North) and Joseph Tonui (Kuresoi South).

The aforementioned women leaders, for the most part, clinched the said seats by flooring male opposition.

Kihika, for instance, won Nakuru County's gubernatorial race after garnering 440,707 votes. She edged out her closest competitor and incumbent Governor Lee Kinyanjui, who managed to get 225,623 votes, to become Nakuru County's first female Governor.

Tabitha likewise floored her closest rival, Jubilee's Lawrence Karanja to win the Senator seat, after attaining 442,864 votes compared to Karanja's 163,625 votes.

The surge in the number of women leaders in the county has seen Kenyans on social media dub the region 'Nakuru Girls County', with Kenyans on the platform – albeit jokingly - questioning whether there are any capable male leaders in the county.

Nakuru residents, both women and men alike, as well as Kenyans across the divide have however welcomed the change with enthusiasm with many convinced that the female leaders-in-waiting will bring change to the county. 

What an election for Women.
What a statement from Nakuru County, which has delivered a female Governor, a female Senator, and 5 out of 11 constituency MPs . Include the women rep, that's 6 female MPs. Nakuru surpasses the 2/3 constitutional requirement through the ballot.
Makofi.— FERDINAND OMONDI (@FerdyOmondi) August 12, 2022