PSYCHOSOCIAL CHALLENGES FACING WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLITICAL LEADERSHIP IN KENYA: A SURVEY OF KAKAMEGA COUNTY

Abstract

The general objective of the study is to establish the psychosocial challenges women face in political leadership in Kakamega County Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the effect of marginalization on women participation in political leadership; to determine the effect of patriarchal biases on women participation in political leadership; to find out the influence of lack of family support on women participation; to investigate the effect of political barriers on women participation in political leadership. This study adopted correlation design where both quantitative and qualitative data was collected. The target population comprised of women political leaders who participated in political leadership in Kakamega County. The census of all the 48 women was sampled, with data collected using questionnaires. Data analysis was aided by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 23. Qualitative data was analyzed by narrative reporting, while quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The response rate was at 91.67 % which was above average and sufficient to continue with the data analysis. Marginalization had a positive linearly significant influence on participation of women in political leadership. Women participating in elective positions are considered as unruly characters in society with society dissuading women from elective positions. Patriarchal biases had a positive linearly significant influence on participation of women in political leadership. Family support had a positive linearly significant influence on participation of women in political leadership. The findings established that women rarely get financial backing from the family members for elective positions with financing of women for political leadership viewed as waste of resources. The study established that political barriers had a positive linearly significant influence on participation of women in political leadership. Political barriers was the most important factor in influencing participation of women in political leadership followed by marginalization, family support and the least was patriarchal biases. The study concluded that political barriers were the most important factor in diminishing participation of women in political leadership. The study concluded that marginalization is a common feature in diminishing the prospects of women participation in elective positions. The study concluded that for women to succeed and fully participate in politics, fighting and overcoming patriarchal obstacles is a necessity in order to achieve the 30% quota desired by the constitution. The study concluded that support of women by family and society at large is an important component of empowering women aspiration and prospect for participation in politics. The study recommendation is that since marginalization is a common challenge, there is need for positive social change to educate public on elimination of discrimination to support equity for women to participate fully in the political process. The study recommended that to overcome patriarchal biases and ensure fairness in political participation of women, measures should be taken to compensate for historical and political psychosocial disadvantages that prevent women from participation in politics. The study recommended that to reinvigorate family support for women participation in politics, economic empowerment of women, education and access to information, may act as an effective tool. On areas for further studies and for comparative analysis, the study on psychosocial challenges women face in political leadership in Kakamega County Kenya may be cascaded to other regions in Kenya.