Sometime in 1974, a woman in her mid thirties made history as Kenya’s first female assistant minister. She had just quit her position as an associate professor at the University of Nairobi to plunge into politics and clinched the Funyula Constituency seat.
Kenyan member of parliament Alice Wahome spoke about the violent abuse, harassment and humiliation she has experienced as a female politician at the launch of a report about women's participation in the March 2013 elections.
In March 2013, Sophia Abdi Noor was the only woman to stand for parliament in northern Kenya, a marginalised region where Islam has a lot of sway.
New laws designed to increase the number of elected women in Kenyan politics had no effect on the 2013 elections because those concerned failed to implement them, the Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) said.
Grace Akech Onyango was the first African Iron Lady of Kenyan politics.
Born in Sakwa, Bondo and married in Gem to a teacher-journalist Onyango Baridi she became the first woman to be elected mayor of Kisumu Town in 1967 and MP in 1969.
Ijara — As Kenyans go to the polls today, could Sophia Abdi Noor become the first ever Somali woman to be voted in to the Kenyan parliament?
(Read article at: allAfrica)
The testimonies filed to a Nairobi court last week are difficult to read. A woman is raped in front of her daughter, first by police and then by looters. A student is dragged into the bush and has his foreskin cut off.