| dc.description.abstract | Participation of women in politics can be traced back to the 1ih century in the United
Kingdom when women demanded for property ownership and the vote. Through conventions,
such as the Beijing platform for Action, many positive changes have taken place in national
legislations in many countries leading to increased participation of women in politics and
decision making organs. In Africa, Burundi, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda have
achieved the critical 33% representation of women in political decision making organs such as
political parties, parliamentary committees and local decision making forums. However, in other
parts of Africa and indeed Kenya, participation of women in politics and thus key decision
making forums is still low at 17.3%. This makes it difficult for women to influence decision
made regarding matters affecting them as the majority of poor people in Kenya. Low
participation of women in governance is a hindrance to this realization, thus negatively affecting
service delivery in accordance to their felt needs. This study sought to determine the influence of
women's political participation on governance in Bondo Constituency. The study sought to
answer the following questions: How does women's participation in civic education as a
component of political participation influence governance in Bondo Constituency? To what
extent does women's participation in the political party leadership as a component of political
participation influence governance in Bondo Constituency? To what extent does women's
participation in resource mobilization as a component of political participation influence
governance in Bondo constituency? How does women's participation in political office as a
component of political participation influence governance in Bondo Constituency? Ex Post Facto
Research design was used in the study. 100 house-holds were samples and data collected from a
total of 173 male and female respondents from 6 county wards in Bondo constituency. The study
found human rights rated at 33.7%, the electoral process (17%), devolved governance (13%), and
the constitution (15%) as civic education activities implemented by women through churches,
village meetings "barazas", women groups and funerals as forums for civic education thus
influencing governance. More findings revealed that women participate in political party
leadership mostly as party members (52.9%), women leaders (29.7%), treasurers (5.2%),
secretaries (2.9%) and chairpersons (1.2%). Through these roles they influenced party policies
especially with regard to gender equity and the number of women nominated to contest in
electoral politics and conducted resource mobilizers in order to increase the number of political
party supporters during political party campaigns. The study revealed that women mostly use
Village savings and loan associations to secure loans (32,2%), contributions from other
women(10.5%) and loans from other financial loaning services. These resources are used for
political campaign activities. 33.3% of the participants thought that having adequate resources
gave women self-confidence to participate in politics; 27.4% felt that women gained respect from
community members; 18.5% felt that women's participation in resource mobilization would aid
in financing of community projects. Women participate in political office mostly as county ward
representatives (42.2%) and women's representatives (45.1 %). As contribution to governance,
they foster gender balance in all political offices (23.1 %), resource mobilization and community
development (20.2%), development through solidarity groups (19.7%), making the needs of
women known (6.4%) and participation in gender budgeting. The study also found that so far,
women have influenced governance advocating for good governance, rooting for good leadership
and mobilizing more women to join the political arena. | en_US |
