Factors influencing women’s access to political leadership among the tugen- arror community in Baringo North Sub-County, Baringo County, Kenya

Abstract

Women’s political participation has been recognized internationally as an important measure of the status of women in any society. Hence, in recent years, women’s participation in politics has received significant attention across the world. However, women remain seriously underrepresented in political leadership positions in Kenya and particularly in Baringo North Sub-County. The aim of this study was to identify factors influencing women’s access to political leadership among the Tugen-Arror community in Baringo North sub-county. The specific objectives were to; examine the societal attitudes of the Tugen-Arror community on gender balance in political representation, investigate factors hindering women’s access to leadership in the community and identify ways of empowering women to access full leadership potential in the community. The study was anchored on the developmental theory of gender realignment, in which the transformation of sex roles in society influences the process of value change. The study adopted a survey research design and targeted 41,191 respondents. However, a sample size of 150 respondents who were selected through stratified and simple random sampling was used. The study used questionnaires and interview schedules to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Validity of the research instruments were done through expert judgment while reliability was ascertained through piloting of the instruments in the neighboring Baringo Central Sub-County which shares similar characteristics as the study area. Quantitative data was analysed through the use of frequencies and percentages while qualitative data were thematically classified before they were reported in narrations and quotations as per the research objectives. The finding of the study showed that different casual factors such as; economic, religious, social and cultural factors contributed to women’s poor political participation in the Baringo North Sub-County. It is true that more than half of the world’s population constitute women. But they lack access to political decision making as compared to their male counterparts at all levels of government. Women’s equal participation in politics is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy, but a necessary pre-condition for women’s interests being taken into account. The qualitative data reveals that gender biases and traditional roles significantly hinder women's participation in politics among the Tugen-Arror community. Many respondents expressed doubts about women's competence and capability in political office, with some male participants questioning women's ability to balance political duties with domestic responsibilities and meet the financial demands of political campaigns. The study concluded that women are in dire need of political participation. Their situation has resulted from cultural and societal injustices, the attitudes of the Tugen Arror community on gender balance in political representation hinders their access to political leadership positions. The study recommended that there is a need to sensitize the Tugen Arror community on the need to bridge the gap on women leadership and the government too ought to facilitate women leadership through affirmative action.