Kenya political shifts: Women leaders demand gender balance as Murang’a representative exits race

Women leaders in Siaya County have called for political parties, specifically the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), to adopt gender-balanced formulas for elective seats ahead of the 2027 elections. During the Siaya Women’s Forum, leaders warned that female politicians are being excluded from key negotiations, which threatens the constitutional two-thirds gender rule. Participants highlighted barriers such as lack of campaign funding and rising political violence, urging parties to provide structured support and nomination tickets for women.

In a separate political development, Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina announced she will not defend her seat in the 2027 general election. Maina, an ally of President William Ruto, cited changing political realities in the Mt Kenya region following the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election. She noted that the landslide victory of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate over the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate indicated a shift in the local electorate's direction.