Whatever way the script is written, women's political participation results in tangible gains for democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizen needs, increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines, and a more sustainable future.
What women can do
There is also strong evidence that as more women are elected to office, there is a consequence increase in policymaking that emphasises quality of life and reflects the priorities of families, women, and ethnic minorities.
Accordingly, the meaningful participation of women in national, local and community leadership roles has become an important focus on global development policy.
Kofi Annan, formerly UN Secretary-General, noted, “Study after study has taught us, there is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women.
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No other policy is as likely to raise economic productivity or to reduce child and maternal mortality.
In her first inaugural address on January 15, 2006, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first female president in Africa, set forth her foreign policy orientation, saying that Liberia would no longer be used for insurgency and that the country will strengthen its ties with countries of the world, especially neighbouring countries.
This commitment gave rise to the nation’s foreign policy objectives, with massive dividends, including the waiver of Liberia’s debts by dozens of countries and international organisations and institutions.
Who could have performed so splendidly more than Johnson Sirleaf, a woman who commends a lot of respects both national and internationally?
Women leaders of today are tenacious and diverse. They are mobilising the global climate movement, pushing for social protections, addressing the COVID-19 crisis, and dismantling systemic racial discrimination. Across the continent, women leaders improve lives and inspire a better future for all.
Malawi’s first female president, Joyce Banda, came to power under peculiar circumstances. She was never elected as president, but as the country’s vice president, she ascended into power after her male predecessor, Bingu Mutharika, died in office.
Banda initiated austerity measures that won approval from the international community but were not popular at home.
Her policies were somewhat effective, as donors resumed a flow of funding to Malawi, and the country’s economic growth rate more than doubled during her first two years as president.
Female deputy president
Kenya is on the verge of electing its 5th President, who, by all indications, will be a male. However, there have been heated debates and a prediction that the presidential candidate who will pick a female running mate will be the next president.
This is a deliberate push to pick a woman from the famous and populous Mt Kenya region. Two powerful women have been named fit the shoes; Narc Kenya chairlady Martha Karua and Kirinyaga governor Anne Mumbi Waiganjo.
Karua is a former magistrate dubbed ‘The Iron Lady’ for her toughness and resilience. She has also been referred to as “the only man in Kibaki’s government”.
Leading the League of Women Voters, Karua has won several awards praising her work in both parliament and the high court to advance and protect women’s rights.
Governor Waiguru’s performance record speaks for itself. Her previous performance during her tenure at the Finance Ministry, and particularly the central role she played in initiating the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) that enhanced the government’s capacity to curb fraud in public spending, stand out.
Her tenure as the Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning Ministry had great achievements, including the infamous Huduma Centres that have made it easier for Kenyans to receive government services at county levels.
President Uhuru, who has often been lauded for his continued commitment to youth’s and women’s participation and leadership, recently noted that women are the pillar upon which society leans.
Women are drivers of family health and welfare; they inculcate values and nurture the young, and they exert a powerful influence on intergenerational outcomes for their children.
Notably, out of Uhuru’s 21-member Cabinet, there are seven women, a great improvement from the previous 25 per cent to 29.1.
Women’s participation in politics helps advance gender equality and affects both the range of policy issues that get considered and the proposed types of solutions.
Even though women are vaulting to leadership spaces, there exist challenges that hinder them from fully participating in political processes.
Predominantly, our communities remain obstinately resistant to women in leadership roles. This is because they (the patriarchy) too often perceive women as too delicate to lead.
This trend among many other deeply-seated and unconscious gender biases, force potential women leaders to withdraw into their shells. Yet, women possess inherently strong attributes that can help lead more effectively.
It is even embarrassing quoting this but, it would be remembered when the former Nyeri Governor, the late Nderitu Gachagua, publicly ridiculed the then Nyeri woman representative Hon Nyokabi for giving birth while in office.
Gachagua blamed Nyokabi for neglecting her work and urged residents to consider electing women who have hit menopause to avoid such situations.
Across the world, women in leadership positions are hampered by numerous obstacles, including pervasive and often subtle attitudes and beliefs that women are unequal to men at home, at work and in government.
Feminists argue that regardless of race, class or ethnicity, women are consistently defined as political outsiders whose participation in public life is conditional upon their maternal roles.
Because historically, women have had fewer opportunities and exposure to leadership positions than men do, women often feel intimidated by the political system and are hesitant to participate. Henceforth deliberate programmes to train and equip women when they enter the corridors of power are needed.
Nevertheless, the women leaders should and can operate under the existing patriarchal system by sharing their accomplishments and ambitions so as to change and shape our communities’ perceptions about women’s ability to lead and create a source of inspiration for women to rise above the gender bias and fear.
In all conscience, when politicians recognise and appreciate the political capital that women carry, they cannot afford to ignore and condemn them to the Cinderella status.
The writer is Muthoni wa Ngunjiri, a regular commentator on social, economic and political affairs.
The views expressed in this opinion piece are hers and do not necessarily represent the position of TUKO Media Ltd in any way.
Source: Breaking News