Africa-Press – Kenya. University of Nairobi Institute for Development Studies Research Professor Karuti Kanyinga has said women candidates faced increased sexual exploitation during the 2022 electioneering period.
Kanyinga spoke on Tuesday during the launch of the Political Economy Analysis on Women Political Participation in Nairobi as he gave a presentation of the analysis.
“There is growing sexual exploitation of women. This threatens to delegitimise gains made in increasing numbers through nomination to parliament and county assemblies,” he said.
Kanyinga said from the report, it was noted that unlike in past political campaigns, the 2022 general electoral competition revealed increased sexual harassment of women candidates. He said the sexual exploitation became more pronounced as more women sought political party nominations.
Kanyinga said as they were working on the analysis of women’s political representation in many counties some of the women aspirants cited instances where the influential elite would ask for sex in exchange for political favours.
“Favours such as awarding party tickets to run for office and promises of nomination to Parliament or the county assembly,” he said.
Additionally, Kanyinga said the use of vulgar and demeaning language on women candidates has increased. “This is mainly to prevent women from participating or disillusioning them all together to withdraw from races,” Kanyinga said.
He said the new practice is widespread and threatens to delegitimise and belittle the gains made in improving the number of women in political positions through nominations list.
Kanyinga called for the development of policies to guide the responsible nomination of candidates for various posts by political parties. Further, he called on United Nations Women to consider convening a high-level policy dialogue to address the issue.
However, IEBC Deputy CEO in charge of electoral operations Ruth Kulundu has said no lady has ever reported a sexual harassment case to the agency during the electioneering period and neither has the commission received reports of cyberbullying.
“As a commission, I would like to confirm that we have received no such reports,” she said.
Kulundu urged women to report such cases as there is a code of conduct that applies during the electioneering period that guides on what is to be done in instances where candidates are harassed.
“We need to stamp out sexual harassment and cyberbullying of women to encourage more women to participate in the electioneering process,” Kulundu said.
“Kindly if you come across any woman or even if it is yourself who has been sexually harassed,or has been asked for sexual favours so as to be given an MCA seat, please come forward because we want to put a stop to this.”
She said reporting will help reduce such incidences in the next general elections. Kulundu said women should not be enticed to give in to sexual demands for political positions.
“There are many women in power and I don’t think they had to give sexual favours to get to where they are,” she said. Kulundu gave assurance that those who reach out to the commission will be protected as the matter will be looked into.
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