Female candidates fared well in Tuesday’s general election, defying deeply entrenched gender biases to win a variety of elective positions.
Aside from the affirmative Woman Representative seats, dozens of women competed against men for governorships, senatorships, and County and National Assembly seats.
Rosa Buyu, the MP-elect for Kisumu West, is among the women contestants who have already been declared winners by the Independent and Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC). She garnered 39,658 votes against incumbent Olago Aluoch, who has represented Kisumu West for the past 15 years.
Women were overwhelmingly elected to key positions in Machakos, including governor and senate. Governor-elect Wavinya Ndeti thanked the electorate for their faith in her ability to deliver.
“Thank you for opening up your minds and hearts, and for seeing the possibility of what we can do together for our children and the future of our great county. I am grateful to all of you for giving me a chance to serve as your second Governor,” said Wavinya.
She defeated former State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita of Chama Cha Uzalendo to become Machakos’ first female governor, while Agnes Kavindu retained her Senate seat.
Phyllis Bartoo, who ran on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, is now the Moiben Constituency MP-elect. She will succeed Silas Kipkoech, who has served two terms.
To win the seat, she defeated two men, including incumbent Sila Tiren.
Tiren garnered 8,790 votes, while Bartoo, a linguistics lecturer at Egerton University, received 40,982 votes. An elated Bartoo promised to prioritize agriculture and the empowerment of women and people with disabilities after the results were announced on Wednesday night.
Agnes Pareiyo defeated six men to become the MP-elect for Narok North, which had approximately 88,000 elected voters. Pareiyo, an anti-female genital mutilation (FGM) crusader, is the first woman to hold that position.
Peris Tobiko, like her Kajiado East counterpart, triumphed despite being “cursed” by Maasai elders after being elected MP in 2013. She has competed in the race three times, once against Maasai kingpin William ole Ntimama.
Despite performing well in all elections, Pareyio, who received her certificate from Narok North constituency returning officer Julius Okweko, has faced stereotyping of women in the community.
The Jubilee MP-elect Pareyio defeated malicious propaganda that “it was unheard for a woman to lead ‘men’. She defeated six men, including lawyer Martine ole Kamwaro, who came second.
“I thank the people of Narok North for electing me as their first woman Member of Parliament. I shall forever remain indebted to you,” said Pareyio.
Mary Wamaua, the MP for Maragua who was running on a UDA ticket, has also retained her seat. Wamaua will serve her second term in Parliament, having received 49,281 votes to her closest competitor, Antony Chege of the Jubilee Party, who received 12,633 votes.
Alice Wahome, an ally of DP William Ruto and Kandara MP, will also serve her third term in Parliament.
Marianne Kittany, a former aide in the Deputy President’s office, defeated four men in the Aldai constituency.
Kittany ran for a UDA ticket. She was elated yesterday after receiving 42,015 votes to defeat incumbent Cornely Serem, an independent candidate, who received 13, 309 votes.
She is the second female MP to represent the Aldai constituency, following former Head of Civil Service Sally Kosgei, who served between 2008 and 2013 under President Mwai Kibaki.
“I thank the people of Aldai for trusting in me. I promise them that I will not let them down,” said Kitany after she was issued with her certificate.
Three female Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs from Homa Bay county have also retained their seats.
Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul), and Lillian Gogo (Rangwe) defeated their opponents to win re-election.
Millie was re-elected with 27,130 votes, outnumbering her closest competitor, James Akali of the Federal Party, who received 18,151 votes. Obara was declared the winner after receiving 31,104 votes.
Gogo, on the other hand, received 22,095 votes defeating her opponents to win.
Obara and Gogo will be serving their second terms in Parliament, while Millie will be serving her third.
Ruweida Obbo, the outgoing Lamu Woman Representative, won the hotly contested Lamu East MP seat, unseating incumbent and two-term MP Abdul Sharif Athman of the United Democratic Alliance.
Obbo celebrated her victory by promising to carry out her development agenda. “My tenure will mark a shift in how education, health, and infrastructure issues are addressed,” she said.
Other winners include Mary Emase for Teso South MP, who defeated outgoing Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong; Sarah Korere for Laikipia North, Agnes Nyenze for Kitui West, Lillian Gogo for Rangwe, Martha Wangari for Gilgil, Gathoni Wamuchomba for Githunguri, and Rachel Nyamai for Kitui South.
Jessica Mbalu and Naisula Lesuuda retained their parliamentary seats in Kibwezi East and Samburu West, respectively, while Irene Njoki, a first-time candidate, defeated veteran politician Kimani Ngunjiri.
Wanjiku Muhia, the Nyandarua Woman Representative in the eleventh Parliament, defeated veteran Amos Kimunya to win the Kipipiri parliamentary seat, while Jane Kihara retained her Naivasha seat.
The twelfth Parliament elected 22 women as MPs, but that number may rise in the upcoming session.
