Abstract:
This study investigated the tactics used to curtail women participation in national elective
leadership positions among the Abagusii of Western Kenya. Data for this study was
collected from 15 Gusii women who were purposively selected because of their
participation in the 2013 and 2017 national elections as contestants. The study found that
women were unable to win any national elective seats which they competed with men.
Their failure was attributed to the tactics male contestants used against them. These
tactics were mostly based on moralistic codes of gender and sexuality. This study argues
that policies that aim at enhancing women participation in elective leadership positions
must first address the social construction of women sexuality in each community.
