STRATEGIES USED BY WOMEN IN CARRYING OUT THEIR LEGISLATIVE MANDATE IN MOMBASA COUNTY
Jane Ndunge Kyalo - PhD Candidate, African Women Studies Centre, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Dalmas Ochieng Omia - Senior Research Fellow, Institute of Anthropology, Gender and African Studies, University of Nairobi, Kenya
Dr. Lanoi Maloiy - Lecturer, African Women Studies Centre, University of Nairobi, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Women’s participation in elective leadership positions is essential since greater women representative in politics will support women’s rights at every level. To this end, enabling strategies which enhance women’s participation in political leadership should be investigated. This study aimed at establishing the strategies used by women in carrying out their legislative mandate in Mombasa County. The study employed a cross sectional descriptive study using qualitative data collection methods on 21 women Members of Mombasa County. Data was analyzed NVivo 10 software and presented in an inductive thematic approach. It was found that through the formation of Women Caucuses, women are able to collectively champion for their rights.As such women in leadership positions in Mombasa county must adopt various strategies for them to fulfil their legislative and representative mandates. Through the formation of Women Caucuses, the women are able to collectively champion for their rights The strategies used by women are women caucus, co-ordination with leaders at the grassroots, lobbying for the support of male leaders and training, research and community engagement. Since women are disadvantaged numerically in leadership positions, it is imperative that they should lobby their male counterparts to support the agenda that affect the women. The women leaders were able to achieve their mandates through coordinating with other leaders and women at the grassroots and in so doing they are able to understand the problems that face women and come up with solutions. Recommendations from this study are that the Women Caucus should ensure women are trained in the legislature and executive at county level on the formal rules, system and processes of the institutions they work in to increase their effectiveness and ability to wield influence.