Taming women in national elective leadership positions-the case of Abagusii of Western Kenya

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.