Women political aspirants across Kenya called for enhanced security, transparent party nominations, and an end to political violence and goonism during regional forums held in August 2026 ahead of the upcoming 2027 General Election.
As political momentum builds toward the 2027 elections, women seeking elective office have raised urgent alarms about safety, intimidation, and financial barriers that threaten female representation in Kenyan politics. Across multiple regional gatherings in August 2026, female aspirants, civil society representatives, and electoral stakeholders pressed for institutional reforms to guarantee a level playing field.
Regional Security Demands and Busia Safety Concerns
In Busia County, women political aspirants pressed security officials and electoral administrators for enhanced protection during a forum organized on Monday, August 17, 2026, by the Community Empowerment and Development Centre in partnership with Uraia according to reporting by People Daily. Participants warned that inadequate security during campaigns leaves female candidates disproportionately vulnerable to harassment by political rivals.
Bwiri Ward Representative Beatrice Kanoti told the assembly that opponents frequently disrupt meetings because security infrastructure is lacking as detailed by the publication.
“When we are attacked and perhaps we don’t have security or we don’t have officers who have protected us, they harass us more because they take advantage of our weakness as women.”
Beatrice Kanoti, Bwiri Ward Representative, via People Daily
Busia nominated ward representative Monica Mung’ala echoed those safety fears, urging the OCPD to hold direct consultations with female candidates to establish preventive measures reported the outlet.
“Obviously that man and you woman you will not agree when it comes to security. They will overpower us.”
Monica Mung’ala, Busia Nominated Ward Representative, via People Daily
Aspirant Hellen Mukanda told attendees that opponents have targeted her personal life and family to silence her voice according to the same coverage.
“I have prepared myself well and i continue preparing myself, but the biggest thing is that as a woman i am still being followed by those opponents and they would like to suppress me simply because i am a woman.”
Hellen Mukanda, political aspirant, via People Daily
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Butula officer John Kirui addressed the forum, urging political leaders to respect human rights
and warning against goonism facilitated by political figures noted People Daily.
Mt Kenya Training Session and Nomination Reform Demands
Similar warnings echoed in Kirinyaga County on Friday, August 21, 2026, where young women aspirants from Nyeri, Nakuru, Murang’a, Kirinyaga, and Embu gathered for a training session under the Young Women in Politics 50/50 Campaign reported KBC. Social Justice League Vice Chairperson Judith Juma condemned the deployment of hired goons to disrupt political gatherings.
“We have seen sparks of violence in different parts of the country. We are calling on everyone to respect the electoral process and allow both voters and candidates to participate in a peaceful environment.”
Judith Juma, Social Justice League Vice Chairperson, via KBC
Juma challenged political parties to guarantee transparent nominations, affordable candidate fees, and robust implementation of the two-thirds gender principle stated the broadcaster. Wamumu Ward MCA aspirant Emily Mwaniki noted that expensive party nomination processes disproportionately disadvantage capable women noted the outlet.
“We have a responsibility as women to change the political culture. We should not wait for others to create space for us; we must organize, support each other and reject violence.”
Asunta Kiobe, MCA aspirant, via KBC
KEWOPA and National Leadership Calls for Inclusion
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA), in partnership with Uraia Trust, convened leaders to demand structural reforms addressing discrimination, unequal campaign financing, and online harassment according to The Eastleigh Voice. KEWOPA Chairperson Leah Sankaire emphasized that safety must precede political participation.
“No woman should have to choose between her safety and her political aspirations.”
Leah Sankaire, KEWOPA Chairperson, via The Eastleigh Voice
Sankaire added that 2027 must be the election where women and youth move from the margins to the centre of power.
Former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister Martha Karua, attending as Chief Guest alongside parliamentarians, urged women to leverage their demographic weight and reject tokenism reported the publication.
“We are not ornaments in political parties. We should have 50/50 chances in parties.”
Martha Karua, Former Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister and Senior Counsel, via The Eastleigh Voice
Coast Peacebuilding
In Kilifi, Mombasa, and Kwale counties, women completed a three-day leadership and peace training organized by the Kenya Community Support Centre (KECOSCE) under its Imarisha project, supported by the Danish Embassy according to The Coast Media Group. Activist Lilian Wambui Karuga stressed the necessity of community mediation and encouraging women to occupy leadership spaces reported the outlet.
