Women who decide to join elective politics face many barriers including discrimination, gender based violence, cultural beliefs among others. However, despite all the odds women have done well in this year’s elections which gave us the first women governors and senators. In as much as it does not meet the 2/3 gender rule, it is a step in the right direction.
Here is a list of women aspirants who made it;
Members of Parliament
1. Aisha Jumwa Karisa Katan – Malindi
She run under under an ODM party ticket and garnered 28700 (52.39%)of the votes. She was previously the women representative for Kilifi county and has been a member of the Departmental Committee on Environment & Natural Resources since 2013.
2. Naomi Namsi Shaban – Taveta
The aspirant for the Taveta constituency got 11252 (43.75%) of the votes to win the seat under the Jubilee Party ticket. She was first elected Taveta MP in 2002 through a Kenya African National Union (KANU) ticket. She defended the seat in 2007 election through KANU and won. Later she joined the National Alliance Party (TNA) and was re-elected MP in 2013.
In 2008 To 2010, she was appointed Minister of State for Special Programs. Later she was reshuffled and in August 2010, she became Minister for Gender and Children Affairs. Between 2003 – 2007, she was the Kenya Branch Representative for the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association.
3. Sophia Abdi Noor – Ijara
She garnered 5899(34.75%) of the votes to be declared the winner under the Party for Democratic Reform ticket. She was the nominated MP for the same constituency from 2008 – 2013. She has been a committee member for the National Council for Children’s Services (2005-2008) and the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (2008-2013). She has been the chair of the Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare (2008-2013). In 2013, she was the vice chair of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association. She has been the commissioner for the Kenya National Committee on Poverty Reduction (2004-2008) She was a delegate of the Kenya National Constitutional Conference(2002-2008). Between 1992-2006, she was the executive director for WomanKind Kenya.
4. Grace Jelagat Kipchoim – Baringo South
She won 10141 votes (37.36%) under a Jubilee Party ticket. She is a member of the Member of the Joint Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity (2013) and the Departmental Committee on Public Works, Roads & Transport (2013).
5. Beatrice Pauline Cherono Kones – Bomet East
She is the elected MP for Bomet East under the Jubilee Party ticket having secured 22 796 votes (53.57%). She was assistant minister for Home Affairs in 2009. Between 2008-2012, she was a member of the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association. Between 2000-2005, she was chair of Maendeleo ya Wanawake. She was the inspector of schools between 1993-1995.
6. Eve Akinyi Obara – Kabondo Kasipul
She won the seat under the ODM ticket after securing 27 185 votes (65.46%). She was appointed the managing director of Kenya Literature Bureau in 2007. She stepped down in September 2016 and expressed her interest in the Kabondo Kasipul seat.She has also served as the Mendeleo ya Wanawake chair of the Nyanza Chapter.
7. Lilian Achieng Gogo – Rangwe
Under the ODM party ticket, she garnered 23 998 votes (54.37%) to become the elected MP. She holds a PhD in Food Science (Food Safety) from Egerton University. Her areas of research are the improvement of post-harvest food processing and value addition of farm produce through development of simple, fast, and effective tools.
8. Millie Grace Akoth Odhiambo – Suba North
She won the seat under the ODM party ticket.She secured 26 525 votes (61.09%) to be declared the winner. She has worked a a lawyer and women and children’s rights activist. She is the founder of The CRADLE which is an NGO that advocates, promotes and protects the rights of children through advocacy and law reform. She was the ODM delegate at Bomas of Kenya during the constitutional drafting process. In 2008, she was the ODM nominated MP for Mbita constituency and in 2013 she was elected the MP for Mbita.
9. Peris Pesi Tobiko -Kajiado East
She got 39 443 votes (52.23%) under the Jubilee Party ticket. She was elected the first female Maasai member of parliament in 2013 when she was chosen to represent the people of Kajiado East constituency. In 2013, she was a member of the Joint Committee on National Cohesion and Equal Opportunity and Departmental Committee on Labour and Social Welfare.
10. Annie Wanjiku Kibe – Gatundu North
She secured 39 448 votes (66.32%) under the Jubilee Party ticket. She is a former radio presenter at Kameme FM.Previously, she was a nominated member of county assembly for Kiambu County.
11. Rachel Kaki Nyamai – Kitui South
She was re-elected the MP after she garnered 22 753 votes (43.52%) under the Jubilee Party ticket. In 2013, she clinched the seat under the Wiper Party ticket.
12. Sarah Paulata Kokere – Laikipia North
She clinched the seat with 10 767 votes (32.12%) under the Jubilee Party ticket. She was a nominated MP in 2013 and is well known for her fight against FGM after she managed to escape that and a forced early marriage. She is also a supporter of exclusive breast feeding, a stance that was evident when she chose to breastfeed her baby while in parliament.
13. Jessica Nduku Kiko Mbalu – Kibwezi East
She won the seat under Wiper Democratic Movement seat with 26 131 votes (59.59%). This is her second term as MP under the WDM ticket. In the National Assembly she was a member of House Business Committee from March 2013. She is Jessica is a founder Member of Kibwezi East REACH programme. Before 2013 she was a part-time lecturer at Catholic University.
14. Mishi Juma Khamisi Mboko – Likoni
She won the seat under the ODM party ticket after securing 27 433 votes (55.61%). She has actively participated in Likoni political campaigns in 1997 and 2002. She vied for Likoni parliamentary seat in 2007. In 2013, she was the women’s representative for Mombasa County.
15. Alice Muthoni Wahome – Kandara
She was re-elected as MP for Kandara with 48 927 votes (56.99%) under the Jubilee Party ticket. she was a member of Procedure and House Rules Committee.
16. Ruth Mwaniki – Kigumo
She won the seat under the Jubilee Party ticket after she secured 40 321 votes (59.80%). She was formarly the CEO of the Export Promotion Council.
17. Mary Wamaua Waithara Njoroge – Maragwa
She won the seat under the Jubilee Part ticket after she secured 46 688 votes (56.97%). She was formerly the nominated MCA in Murang’a county assembly.
18. Mercy Wanjiku Gakuya – Kasarani
She won 77 214 votes (68.80%) to become the elected MP under a Jubilee Party ticket.
19. Martha Wangari – Gilgil
She got 51 943 votes (76,20%) to become the elected MP . She belongs to the Jubilee Party. She s a former nominated senator and was vice chair for the sessional committee on devolved government.
20. Jayne Wanjiru – Naivasha
The Jubilee party aspirant secured 83 573 votes (72,98%) to become the elected MP.
21.Charity Kathambi – Njoro
She managed to garner 60 447 votes (73,58%)on a Jubilee Party ticket to become the elected MP.
22. Naisula Lesuuda – Samburu West
She got 14 561 votes (50,37%) to win the seat. She is a KANU party member and was a former nominated senator.
23. Janet Sitienei – Turbo
She was an independent candidate and got 37 029 votes (46,49%) to become the elected MP.
Women representative
24. Gladwell Jesire Cheruiyot – Baringo
She secured 63770 votes (33.91%) on a KANU party ticket to become the elected woman representative.
25. Joyce Korir Chepkoech – Bomet
Running on Jubilee party ticket, she managed to clinch 205,380 votes (78.68%) in Bomet county. She was the MCA for Singorwet ward in Konoin constituency in Bomet.
26. Catherine Nanjala Wambilianga – Bungoma
She won the seat under a FORD-Kenya ticket after securing 253241 votes (61.79%). She has previously held the post of KUPPET gender secretary and has served as a commissioner on the National Council for Nomadic education. This was her second attempt at vying for the post of woman representative.
27. Florence Mwikali Mutua – Busia
She secured 144706 votes (53.79%) under the ODM party ticket.This is her second term as county women representative. During her term in office, she sat on two committees in parliament: The Committee on Agriculture, Livestock and Cooperatives, and The Committee on Regional Integration.
28. Jane Jepkorir Kiptoo- Elgeyo/Marakwet
She secured the seat with 90453 votes (62.45%) under a Jubilee Party ticket.
29. Jane Wanjiku Njiru – Embu
She garnered 97113 votes (39.38%) to win the seat with a Jubilee Party ticket.
30. Anab Mohamed Gure – Garissa
She won 39141 votes (35.14%) under a Jubilee Party ticket.
31. Gladys Atieno Nyasuna – Homabay
She won by a landslide having secured 369283 votes (95.56%) on an ODM party ticket. This is her second term as woman representative. In Parliament, she spearheaded the formation of the Information and Public Communication committee. She has always taken an interest in politics and in 2003, when at Kenyatta University she became the first female to be elected as the Secretary General of the Student’s Union.
32. Rehema Dida – Isiolo
The incoming women representative secured 25638 votes (49.42%) on a Jubilee Party ticket.
33. Janet Marania – Kajiado
She got 180023 votes (57.33%) on a Jubilee Party ticket.
34. Elsie Muhanda – Kakamega
She secured 286432 votes (53.14%) on an ODM party ticket.
35. Florence Koskey – Kericho
She secured 162899 of the votes (55.74%) on a Jubilee Party ticket.
36. Gathoni Wamuchomba – Kiambu
She won by a landslide after securing 915992 votes (94.2%) on a Jubilee Party ticket. She is a former media personality having worked at Kameme and Inooro FM before opening a digital vernacular television channel, Utugi TV.
37. Gertrude Mbeyu – Kilifi
On an ODM party ticket, she secured 167490 votes (52.65%). She was the former MCA for Kibarani Ward.
38. Purity Wangui – Kirinyaga
On a Jubilee Party ticket, she got 215745 votes (72.8%).
39. Janet Ongera – Kisii
She won the seat in an ODM party ticket. She got 169481 votes (42.61%). She was ODM nominated senator in 2013. She is also a life member of the League of women voters, life member of the Law Society of Kenya, Member of the international federation of women lawyers – Kenya. She is a life member of Maendeleo ya Wanawake and founder of Green Fingers International as well as the co- Founder of Forward Advantage International Foundation.
40. Rozaah Akinyi – Kisumu
She won 377974 votes (89.01%) on an ODM party ticket. She was part of the interview panel that picked commissioners to the IEBC in 2011.
41. Irene Muthoni – Kitui
She won the seat on a Wiper Democratic Movement ticket. She got 230417 votes (64.8%).
42. Zuleikhah Hassan – Kwale
She got 84397 votes (47.44%) on an ODM ticket.
43. Ruweida Obo – Lamu
She won the seat on a Jubilee party ticket having secured 23093 votes (47.04%).
44. Joyce Kameme – Machakos
She won the seat on a Wiper Democratic Party ticket. She secured 215538 votes (46.41%).
45. Rose Mumo – Makueni
She won the seat on a Wiper Democratic Party ticket with 226354 votes (68.61%). This is her second term as women rep.
46. Amina Gedow – Mandera
She ran on the Economic Freedom Party ticket and secured 63646 votes (47.74%).
47. Safia Adan – Marsabit
She ran on a Jubilee Party ticket and secured 40787 votes (36.94%).
48. Kawira Mwangaza – Meru
The independent candidate garnered 278226 votes (52%) to become the elected woman representative.
49. Pamela Awour – Migori
She won the seat on an ODM party and got 189227 votes (60.41%).
50. Aisha Mohamed – Mombasa
She won the seat on an ODM party ticket with 185472 votes (54.73%). She was formerly a nominated MCA for Mombasa county.
51. Maitu Chege – Murang’a
She won the seat on a Jubilee Party ticket with 390912 votes (77.37%). This is her second term as women rep. She is former actress and played the role of Rehema on the KBC series, Tausi. She halso been a radio presenter at Kameme FM and worked as controller of commercial radio services at KBC.
52. Esther Passaris – Nairobi
She won the seat on an ODM party ticket and secured 846814 votes (53.16%). Passaris vied for the post of county women rep in 2013 but lost to Rachel Shebesh.
53. Chelule Liza – Nakuru
She got 494095 votes (67.7%) to clinch the seat on Jubilee party ticket. She is the former nominated senator for Nakuru county and the founder of Gender Equity Network which sought to initiate peace and civic education after the Post Election Violence.
54. Tecla Tum – Nandi
She won the seat after securing 245537 votes (92.11%) on a Jubilee party ticket.
55. Roselinda Tuya – Narok
She got 119653 votes (43.07%) to win the seat Jubilee party ticket. This is her second term as woman representative. She is also an advocate of the High Court.
56. Jerusha Momanyi – Nyamira
The Jubilee Party aspirant won the seat with 86738 votes (44.01%).
57. Faith Gitau – Nyandarua
The Jubilee Party aspirant won the seat with 274689 votes (96.09%).
58. Rahab Mukami – Nyeri
She won the seat after securing 261449 votes (66.75%) on a Jubilee Party ticket.
59. Maison Leshoomo – Samburu
She won the seat on a KANU party ticket after securing 31143 votes (49.28%).
Maison’s political journey began when she become a nominated councilor in 1992 a position she maintained for 10 years. She joined Maendeleo ya Wanawake in 1995 and rose to become the chairperson in Maralal District. In 2008, the Party of National Unity (PNU) nominated her to parliament. She is a member of the Samburu District Peace Committee.
60. Ombaka Odour – Siaya
She won the seat on an ODM party ticket with 191791 votes (51.28%).
61. Lydia Mnene – Taita Taveta
The Jubilee Party aspirant won the seat with 44380 votes (40.74%).
62. Rehema Hassan – Tana River.
She beat her opponents to clinch the seat with 21851 votes (25.5%).
63. Beatrice Nkatha Nyaga – Tharaka Nithi
She won the seat on Jubilee party ticket after securing 92296 votes (53.73%). This is her second term as women rep.
64. Janet Wanyama – Trans-Nzoia
The Jubilee party aspirant won the seat after securing 94762 votes (39.97%). This is her second term as women rep.
65. Joyce Akai – Turkana
She won the seat on a Jubilee party ticket. She got 50730 votes (40.51%). Previously, Joyce worked with the United Nations Children and Oxfam Kenya. This is her second term as women rep.
66. Gladys Boss Shollei – Uasin Gishu
She was the former chief registration of the Judiciary. She won the seat on Jubilee party ticket after securing 222392 votes (66.51%).
67. Beatrice Kahai – Vihiga
She garnered 222392 votes (66.51%) to win the seat on an Amani National Congress ticket.
68. Fatuma Ali – Wajir
She ran for the seat on a Party for Development and Reforms ticket and won with 33376 votes (27.89%).
69. Lilian Tomitom – West Pokot
She clinched the seat in Jubilee party ticket after securing 61541 votes (41.87%).
Senators
70. Susan Kihika-Nakuru
She managed to get 658698 votes (89.61%) running on Jubilee party ticket. She is a law and political science graduate and teh former speaker of the county assembly.
71. Dulo Adan – Isiolo
She ran on a PDR ticket and secured 14706 votes (27.87%). She was formerly the nominated senator for Isiolo.
72. Margaret Kamar- Uasin Gishu
She won the seat on a Jubilee party ticket after securing 226708 votes (67.4%).
From 1999 to 2006, she was a member of the East African Legislative Assembly and chaired the Environment, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Tourism committee. She also led the delegation to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) to South Africa in 2002.
Between 2008 and 2010, she was the delegation leader to the African, Caribbean and Pacific and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly (ACP-EU JPA). She also served as the Assistant Minister Environment and Mineral Resources from 2010 to 2011 and Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology from 2011 to 2013.
In 2013, she became the director at the International Centre for Research in Sustainable Development, a non-governmental organisation.
In 2008, she was elected the MP for Eldoret East.
Governors
73. Anne Waiguru – Kirinyaga
She won the seat on Jubilee party ticket after she secured 159606 votes (54.09%).
She was previously the Minister for Devolution and Planning and is behind the establishment of Huduma Centres.
74. Joyce Labosso- Bomet
She secured 175932 votes (67.2%) on a Jubilee party ticket. She was the former deputy speaker of the National Assembly
75. Charity Ngilu – Kitui
She won the seat in a NARC ticket after securing 167765 votes (47.24%). She served as Minister of Health from 2003 until 2007 and Minister of Water and Irrigation from April 2008 to 2013. She also served as Cabinet Secretary for Land, Housing and Urban Development from 2013 until 2015.