The role of civil society in promoting participation of women in Kenyan politics (2008 - 2012)

Abstract

This project was concerned with the Role of Civil S ociety Organizations (CSOs) in promoting political participation of women in Kenya n politics between 2008-2012. This was the period following the experience of post ele ction violence and the agitation for the new constitution in Kenya. The study’s objectives i ncluded examining the activities carried out by the CSOs in empowering women politic ally, and the challenges the CSOs encounter in their promotion of women participation in politics in Kenya. The findings of the study were that the civil socie ty plays a significant role in advocating for gender equality and women’s rights in the socie ty while seeking to increase women’s participation in all decision making organs, women’ s representation in parliament and participation in politics. However, CSOs face chall enges such as lack of funds, administrative inefficiency, political interference , donor conditionalities and competition among organizations for donor funding influence pro ject activity success. The study therefore recommended that the CSOs need to overcome these challenges in order to support women political participation. Thi s can be done by improving CSOs funding, educating the public through capacity buil ding programmes, by networking with stakeholders with whom the CSOs share same interest s and holding joint activities for projects sharing the same outcome.