Influence of Local Politics on Women Participation in Leadership Positions in Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

Gender inequalities continue to persist, raising concerns among gender advocates about the goodwill and commitment of governments to achieve equality. Women, especially from pastoralist communities, are regarded only as housewives, hence inferior to men. However, some women have emerged and thrived in leadership opportunities, irrespective of this belief. This paper sought to assess the influence of local politics on women's participation in leadership positions in Turkana County. Specifically, the study sought to determine the influence of political factors on women's participation in political leadership in Turkana County. The paper was anchored on The Social Feminist Theory and The Theory of Structural Functionalism, which provided insights on the influence of local politics on women's participation in political leadership. The paper adopted a case study design as a route to investigate the research subject. The target population of the study was 168 women leaders from the county government of Turkana. A sample size of 131 respondents, determined via Krejcie and Morgan's 1970 formula, was used. A questionnaire and interview guide were used as data collection instruments. Data was analyzed quantitatively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 26 and presented in tables and charts, while qualitative data was grouped into common themes. Inferential statistics were used to evaluate the influence of local politics on women's participation in political leadership which had a mean weighted mean of 2.72; indicating a significant influence on women participating in political leadership in Turkana County. The study recommends that more women be encouraged by the county government of Turkana, community actors, and political parties to take part in leadership roles by adopting guidelines that are not discriminatory.