Who’d be a woman politician? Shattering glass ceilings is not for the faint of heart
Source: The East African
By Nerima Wako-Ojiwa,
Student politics in our universities is a replica of our national politics.
When it comes to heavy debates, the competitive candidates are printing hundreds of fliers, forming voting blocs (causing some institutions to forbid the formation of clubs linked to tribe because they were breeding tribal hate speech), attending functions and making promises they will forget as soon as they are sworn in, building relationships, and fundraising.
Tell the truth, they should receive a credit in political science. After that sort of experience, no one ever comes out the same. It will either build you in the political arena or completely break you.
From as early as primary school, voting for a class representative has become just as engaging and competitive these days.
Students no more than 10 years old know what their manifesto for the class or school is. These primary campaigners know what they will bring to the table, including extra snacks at lunch. Promises that will not be kept, but the grandiose nature of them is hilarious when you listen to these young people make such statements.
They have even gone to the extent of making and printing fliers to be shared around the school and asking friends to vote while handing out sweets as an incentive…
University politics is all about whether you are male or female, because the terrain is completely different for the different genders.
Meeting a young woman who vied for president in university is like finding a diamond in the rough. They are thin on the ground. But why?
Click here to read the full article published by The East African on 15 February 2019.
By Nerima Wako-Ojiwa,
Student politics in our universities is a replica of our national politics.
When it comes to heavy debates, the competitive candidates are printing hundreds of fliers, forming voting blocs (causing some institutions to forbid the formation of clubs linked to tribe because they were breeding tribal hate speech), attending functions and making promises they will forget as soon as they are sworn in, building relationships, and fundraising.
Tell the truth, they should receive a credit in political science. After that sort of experience, no one ever comes out the same. It will either build you in the political arena or completely break you.
From as early as primary school, voting for a class representative has become just as engaging and competitive these days.
Students no more than 10 years old know what their manifesto for the class or school is. These primary campaigners know what they will bring to the table, including extra snacks at lunch. Promises that will not be kept, but the grandiose nature of them is hilarious when you listen to these young people make such statements.
They have even gone to the extent of making and printing fliers to be shared around the school and asking friends to vote while handing out sweets as an incentive…
University politics is all about whether you are male or female, because the terrain is completely different for the different genders.
Meeting a young woman who vied for president in university is like finding a diamond in the rough. They are thin on the ground. But why?
Click here to read the full article published by The East African on 15 February 2019.