National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa addressing the Media flagged by other Officials on September 18, 2026. Photo by Dennis Dibondo. 
By Dennis Dibondo.
Women have been urged to turn up in large numbers and seek elective positions in the 2027 General Election to improve their representation in political leadership.
National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa said women must present themselves as aspirants in greater numbers to secure an equal opportunity to compete and win elective seats alongside men.
Jaldesa said the Commission had launched a series of sensitisation dialogues across the country to encourage women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and members of marginalised communities to participate actively in political leadership.
She identified Meru, Kisii and Nyamira counties as among areas where women remain significantly underrepresented in elective positions following the 2022 General Election.
“Women remain underrepresented in non-reserved elective positions in Meru, Kisii and Nyamira, including Members of County Assembly, Members of Parliament, gubernatorial and senatorial positions,” Jaldesa said.
She noted that women won only two of the 56 elective positions in Meru, one of the 56 positions in Kisii and none of the 26 positions in Nyamira during the 2022 elections.
“In 2022, the number of men cleared to contest political positions was higher than that of women, meaning fewer women turned up to seek elective seats,” she said.
Jaldesa said the Commission was travelling across the country to identify and address barriers hindering the participation of women, youth, PWDs and marginalised groups in political leadership.
She cited gender-based violence, high nomination fees and other structural challenges as some of the obstacles discouraging potential candidates from seeking office.
She called on political parties to lower registration and nomination fees for women, youth and persons with disabilities to encourage more of them to enter the political arena.
The NGEC chairperson said the Commission would also monitor political party primaries to ensure they comply with constitutional requirements on inclusion and representation.
She said political parties must adhere to nomination rules governing the conduct of primaries and ensure compliance with provisions relating to gender, youth and persons with disabilities.
Jaldesa spoke on Wednesday on the sidelines of a three-day sensitisation forum at the Meru National Polytechnic, which runs until Friday.
She said the Commission was holding separate dialogue sessions with women, youth, persons with disabilities and marginalised communities to understand their unique challenges and develop strategies to enhance their participation in the 2027 elections.
