25May, 2022
    Is Gender The New Agenda In 2022 General Elections?
    Participants during coffee bar Tuesday. Photo: Julius Rasat

    “Women are being chosen as running mates on matters of inclusivity and not their leadership skills or what they are bringing at the table” Participants said

    Coffee Bar Tuesday this week was discussing if gender is the new agenda in political space? With political leaders choosing their women as running mates, does this mean we are achieving the 2/3 gender principle? Does this also mean that women’s voices are now being taken seriously? 

    This was one of the most heated conversations that we have ever heard during a coffee bar. With 25+ participants, the majority felt that women don’t need to be running mates to anyone, they can be able to run for any presidential seat.

    7 of 24 participants felt that women are now being chosen as running mates because of their leadership skills, track record and their urge for better governance, 9 felt that women are being used as mobilization tool and won’t have any say when it comes to governance of this country while 4 felt that women were picked as a result of sympathy.

    “Wanawake wamelia sana, wacha tuwapatia hii top seat ndio wawache kulia sana” Participant said

    With examples of Wajackoyah choosing Justina Wamae as running mate, Reuben Kigame unveils Irene Kamau as his running mate, Raila Odinga choosing Martha Karua as his running mate, Moses Kuria picking Faith Mwaura as his running mate and William Kabogo settled on Esther Ndirangu means that women are being noticed at the high table. These are just examples of top candidates who have picked women as their running mates.

    Raila Odinga and Martha Karua after being mentioned as the running mate. Photo: Getty Images

    Participants believe that top politicians choosing women as running mates have a hidden agenda. One of the hidden agenda is women being used as running mates in order to get votes from women.

    Trends & Insights for Africa (Tifa) released polls indicating that Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance presidential candidate Raila Odinga is the most preferred presidential candidate at 39 percent after choosing Martha Karua as his running mate. Does this mean that many people will vote for a presidential candidate who has a woman as a running mate? You have the answer. 

    Participants felt that women running as running mates will be puppets as soon as they win the elections. This means that after getting the votes, the deputy president office will be another occupied busy office with no moves. Others may have been selected in order to gather sympathy votes from women. Participants also argued that most of the women have nothing they are bringing at the table apart from the sympathy votes. Is gender the new agenda that the political class is using to get votes?

    Others argued by the time someone is being picked as running mate, there is something the presidential candidate had seen in them.  They could perform even better than their male counterparts. The fact remains that choosing Martha Karua, Irene Kamau, Justina Wamae, Esther Ndiragu among others has given hope to our young girls that leadership is not patriarchal.

    Kenya is among countries with lowest proportions of female parliamentarians in East Africa with 23%. Efforts to implement the two-thirds gender have so far not beared any fruits. However, the efforts are coming into realization with more women having interest in politics and vying for various political seats. If any of them wins, we will have a new record of the first female deputy president. See you Tuesday!

    11May, 2022
    Elections And Mental Health – Elections Stress Disorder
    Participants during Coffee Bar Tuesday. Photo: Peris Saleh

     “I have fear of what will happen after the voting, me and my mother almost died during the post election violence. They stopped our bus and asked which tribe we were and mom had to show her identification card. Were it not for our tribe, me and my mom would not be alive” said one participant

    If your candidate/s doesn’t win, what will happen to you? Do you think it will affect you mentally? How prepared are we mentally for the coming 2022 general elections? What can we do to make sure no matter the outcome of the elections, our mental state will still be stable? These are some of the questions that were discussed during the Coffee Bar Tuesday. 

    15 out 20 believe that the current state of politics has caused a lot of tension during this 2022 general election and some of the political class are likely not to concede defeat. With previous experience during elections, many are not sure of whether they will be violence after the elections. Regardless of whether you will note or not, the 2022 general elections are likely to trigger anxiety, stress, and other negative mental health symptoms.

    Currently, the majority of Kenyans are experiencing election stress disorder. There is a feeling that this election will divide communities and trigger anger and frustration than any other election in recent memory. Some of the signs and symptoms of election stress disorder include insomnia, concern, fear, frustration, anxiety, depression, pain, obsession with the news/updates, anger issues, withdrawal and social isolation during elections. However, this reacts differently to everyone.

    Post-election stress has become a larger issue than ever before driven by previous post violence experiences. There’s a lot of tension, many feel that the 2022 general elections will not be free and fair. Some of the participants also pointed out that as soon as they were done with voting, the results will be announced while they are on their way to upcountry. This represents so many Kenyans especially those living in the capital city and other towns. 

    Anti riot policemen attempt to disperse protesters in Mathare in Nairobi, Kenya August 12, 2017. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya

    Many are those who won’t vote because they feel their vote won’t count, others won’t vote because they feel the direct tickets have snatched them their preferred candidate. This has a major effect on their mental health by making them feel like there will be no change for the next 5 years. 

     “I have fear of what will happen after the voting, me and my mother almost died during the post election violence. They stopped our bus and asked which tribe we were and mom had to give her identification card. Were it not for our tribe, me and my mom would not be alive” said one participant

    There was a feeling that religious leaders are no longer playing their role well. Compared to previous elections, they were at the forefront of preaching peace but lately they have aligned themselves with the politicians. This is also causing distress among many congregations.

      “Nowadays religious leaders wameji allign na political class hadi instead of preaching peac eduring and after elections, wako busy kutushow who we should vote for” Participant said

    With election stress disorder, how can we be able to control it or make sure that we are safe mentally? Some of the ways raised during the coffee bar session include;

    • Limit news and your social media activity
    • Choose who to talk to and what to talk about
    • Be secure and safe
    • Get out of the polling station after voting
    • Accept the results and move on

    During party primaries, there were few cases of young people being paid to disrupt the party primaries. There are worries that these will be the same people who will be used to disrupt or cause violence during or after elections. The message is clear, no matter the state of the economy, no matter how broke you are, don’t be the reason why people will fight. Peace starts with you and your mental health should be a priority. See you on Tuesday!