Women candidates in Kenya: Political socialization and representation

Improving the conditions under which women live has been linked to attaining women's substantive representation in governing bodies. Using Kenya as a case study, this article attempts to understand the manner in which more women candidates could reform the political process and address women's issues and interests. In addressing these issues we administered a survey to a sample of Kenyan women citizens, as well as nineteen women candidates. Ultimately, our findings from the survey indicate that women running for office in recent Kenyan elections do not offer immediate hope for voicing the concerns of women and improving the status of women. We conclude that gender and political socialization patterns are so deeply embedded within these candidates that their agendas do not embody the priorities and issues that would increase Kenyan women's substantive representation in Parliament.