Three major influences that bolstered women’s representation in public offices
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Date
2026-02-10
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International Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Studies
Abstract
Background: The advancement of women active participation in governance has been stymied by structural socioeconomic, and cultural barriers. Other than civil society influence on affirmative action, multipartism, the Kenya constitution 2010, and devolved system of governance have strengthened women’s voices or representation in both appointive and elective offices, the extent to which has not been formally determined.
Objective: To determine the extent to which multiparty democracy, the Kenya Constitution 2010, and devolved system of government have strengthened women’s representation in appointive and elective offices.
Methods: Qualitative data is obtained through document analysis and desktop reviews. The data is analyzed descriptively and exploratively to isolate data patterns distinguishing various political epochs in Kenya from independence to devolution. Ultimately the results are visualized and interpreted accordingly.
Results: The major influences of women’s representation are: independence, political pluralism, and constitutional reforms.
Conclusion: It is becoming increasingly clear that two-thirds gender rule faces more challenges than structural reforms.
Keywords: Women representation, multiparty, democracy, constitution, devolution