KENYA ELECTION: SEXIST LANGUAGE SHOWS THAT PATRIARCHYREFUSES TO GIVE WAY

Women face a host of obstacles: inadequate political support from their parties, particularly in the primaries; a lack of financial resources; gender-based violence; gender stereotyping; and patriarchal structures across society. There are many ways in which elections are gendered in Kenya. In January this year, controversial bishop David Gakuyo, who is seeking election as a member of parliament, made demeaning remarks about two women politicians. He accused them of seeking votes while “swinging bare behinds”.