Young Women in Politics
Empowering young women is a prime precondition for overall development and empowerment of a nation. Although this might seem to be a daunting task at the onset since they can’t be empowered instantaneously, mechanisms towards that direction should be immediately instituted. Kenya’s regional and international competitiveness heavily hinges on its ability to empower and educate young women to realize gender equality – giving young women the same rights, responsibilities, and opportunities as men.
Numerous studies confirm that reducing gender inequality enhances productivity and economic growth. Thus, the government and other relevant stakeholders should place more emphasis on narrowing the gender gap in order for young women to access opportunities for development. It is true the large voter turnout by the youth coupled with emerging trend of many young female candidates during
general election ( as witnessed in 2013 General Election) is a clear indication the youth want a refreshing wing of change which will herald a new dispensation that is sensitive to their modern aspirations.
The myriad of challenges experienced by the young women during election depicts a deplorable situation and should be swiftly addressed prior to enable them succeed in future elections. In addition, political parties and their leaders need to be informed of the importance of the young women in political participation and electoral process. On the other hand more similar studies should be done periodically towards addressing the identified challenges in order to enhance the participation of young women in political and electoral processes in Kenya. It is also critical to adopt a more dynamic mechanism to mobilize and engage young women and support them in order to make more contribution towards development activities and political participation. The prudent policies and structures should be provided to guarantee an enabling environment conducive for youth development.