Africa report
Elections in Kenya: women fight to make their voices heard [3/5]
Audio 02:24
Omar Umra, candidate for the post of governor on the island of Lamu.
© Florence Morice / RFI
By: Florence Morice Follow
3 mins
On 9th August next Kenyans are being called to ballot for general elections.
How are they approaching this deadline?
What conclusions do they draw from the two terms of Uhuru Kenyatta and what do they expect from his successor?
RFI correspondents and special correspondents criss-crossed the country for a series of reports.
This Thursday, July 28, RFI looks at the place of women in the political landscape.
Martha Karua's candidacy for vice-president marks a turning point, but the obstacles for women remain numerous.
Report from Lamu, a reputedly conservative island on the Kenyan coast, where for the first time a woman is running for governor.
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With our special correspondent in Lamu,
Blue and white scarf on his head, arms crossed, a determined look, Omar Umra poses proudly on his campaign poster.
Behind her, Julius Ndegwa, a man, a former deputy.
He agreed to be her running mate, an unusual image on the conservative island of Lamu, but not for long, hopes the candidate: "
It's fun because it's commonplace in life for women to be in front, since they are the pillars of our communities.
But not in politics.
What happens along the way?
Lots of bad education… So for me it's a very exciting campaign… To be on the front line to show that this is where women should be!
".
Figure of civil society, already known for having created a highly respected NGO in Lamu, Omar Umra, with some enthusiasm, as evidenced by this song composed by local artists, but his candidacy shakes the political landscape of Lamu: "I
find very healthy that this kind of debate takes place, even if it means taking blows.
I am happy to do so, because I think this discussion is much needed in the 21st century.
»
And the hits abound.
Misunderstanding, criticism, sometimes insults, says Mohamed Atman, one of his most fervent supporters in this campaign: “
Some get angry.
Others tell us that a woman cannot lead.
They invoke religion saying that it would not allow women to lead men or society.
Others say that, biologically, a woman cannot be elected since, every month, she has her period, and she can get pregnant… That kind of thing
”.
► Also to listen:
Elections in Kenya: in Nairobi, disillusioned youth facing the elections [1/5]
The growing influence of social networks has not helped.
Merci Mwangi leads the Association of Women Parliamentarians of Kenya, she is alarmed at an increase in online harassment of women candidates as the election approaches: "
Most women candidates experience online sexual harassment, or sexist remarks .
And this has a major impact on women's participation in politics because, unless they are very daring, most of them tend to avoid putting themselves forward on social networks.
Some even deactivated their account.
It's demotivating, it's demoralizing, and it's bad for their campaign.
"
The Constitution of Kenya provides that elective public bodies should not have more than two-thirds members of the same sex.
12 years after its entry into force, Kenyan women still hold less than 10% of all elective positions in the country.
► Also to listen:
Elections in Kenya: Meru, the agricultural sector in difficulty [2/5]
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