Women politicians are still treated as second fiddles by their male counterparts but River State want to change this narrative! This story explores how River State is implementing the 35 per cent Affirmative Action policy on women’s participation and appointment in politics “They just bought personal cars for some of us, and it ends there….
Programme pillars of participation targetting women still key to democracy The women-focused approach in strategy increases audience engagement, particularly in women. In this story, I explore how women’s initiatives and program pillars of participation are a solution to encouraging young women to engage in leadership opportunities in Bungoma County, Western Kenya. Kabuchai constituency lies 15…
The toxic culture holding women back from political leadership! This audio feature examines how women continue to aspire for leadership positions in all spheres of governance and how invisible cultural barriers and expectations still interfere with their success. Solutions on how women can navigate these challenges are also highlighted. The issue of tradition has been…
“Leadership is never given on a silver platter, one has to earn it.” Ellen Johnson Sirleaf the former Liberian President did not lie when she said this. The story explores how women are struggling for equal political seats, but are still far from achieving it. The 2022 Kenyan general election was not an exception. From…
Let women lead! This feature delves into how the trends of negative societal perception toward young women’s participation in politics are as old as the existence of democracy in Northern Nigeria. Hon. Anna Bitrus who emerged as the only female among the four supervisory councillors in Biu Local Government Area, of southern Borno, assumed the…
In Partnership with Money is among the hydra-headed challenges militating against women politicians in Nigeria. In this report, JULIANA FRANCIS examines how money limits and discourages women from political participation, with the report throwing up likely solutions. She is a stickler for punctuality. She and the reporter had agreed to meet at Radisson Blu,…
In Partnership with Female deaf politicians face double stereotyping and discrimination In this story, Njeri Kimani takes us through the challenges deaf female politicians face as they try to campaign and navigate through the murky waters of politics Being a Kenyan woman politician is hard. Women candidates are harassed, intimidated, and insulted on online and…
In Partnership with “Society sees men as leaders and expects women to be submissive.” This story brings out the challenges faced by women in the Nigerian political ecosystem ranging from funding, sexual harassment, male monopoly and even societal and religious perception. It was American writer and civil rights activist, Maya Angelou that said, “We may…
In November 2022, unknown assailants killed a female political leader in the northwest state of Kaduna. It was the ninth incident of violence against politically exposed women or women affiliated with politicians since the 2019 elections. Only a few cases of violence against women in politics are reported, most women are shut out by…
In Partnership with Paralegals help to create a more just and equitable society. This feature explains how paralegals play a critical role in promoting civic engagement and political participation in Kenya by providing legal assistance to individuals and communities, particularly those who are marginalised and cannot afford legal services In any given platform, both offline…
In Partnership with Politics in Nigeria starts in various local communities and wards This story walks us through the importance of grassroots mobilisation to ensure many women vote Ede, a tailor in Edo State was unsure if she would vote in the lead-up to the 2023 elections. However, this soon changed on a certain evening…
In Partnership with @wekesa_sandra One step that society fails to recognise is that trauma healing plays a vital role in women’s participation in public life. But how exactly can stakeholders ensure this works? Women go through trauma during electioneering period, this story explores the healing process needed to get them back on their feet…
