Countdown to 2027: Women leaders urged to ‘grab power’ at Jamhuri Kenya Leadership Awards
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Speakers at the event said women’s success in politics comes through belief, resilience, and persistence.
Women leaders have been urged to actively pursue elective seats in the 2027 General Election instead of waiting for political favours, during the Jamhuri Kenya Leadership Awards 2026 held Friday night at the Swiss Lenana Mount Hotel in Nairobi.
Speakers at the event said women’s success in politics comes through belief, resilience and persistence, especially in a political environment traditionally dominated by men.
Kitui MCA Judith Wanza Kasyoka: ‘Power is grabbed, not given’
Nuu Ward MCA Judith Wanza Kasyoka from Kitui County said women must compete boldly in elective politics.
“I am the only elected woman in that County Assembly of Kitui. During the 2022 elections, I beat 11 men to win Nuu Ward in Mwingi. Fellow women, as we mark International Women’s Day in advance, let us remember that power is not given, but grabbed,” she said.
Ms Kasyoka is serving her second term as a Member of County Assembly.
Turkana’s only elected female MCA recognised
Also recognised during the awards ceremony was Turkana County’s only elected female MCA, Ruth Kuya, popularly known as “Mama Mmoja” (One Woman).
Former minister Linah Kilimo urges women to go for elective seats in 2027
Former Cabinet minister Linah Jebii Kilimo, who served in President Mwai Kibaki’s first Cabinet, encouraged women to pursue elective politics in 2027.
She narrated how she overcame cultural barriers in the patriarchal Marakwet community before joining politics.
“First, I had to run away from home as a young girl to avoid circumcision. Then, as a married woman, I pushed to intervene between our warring communities. All along I had a dream planted in me by my primary school teacher,” she said.
Ms Kilimo said the teacher inspired students by telling them they could grow up to become powerful leaders like women in Nairobi who drove big cars and jailed men.
She later realised the teacher was referring to Justice Effie Owuor, Kenya’s first female judge.
The former Marakwet East MP said the dream later pushed her to champion anti–Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) legislation.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko challenges women in affirmative seats
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko, who received the Outstanding MP of the Year – Governance and Good Leadership Award, encouraged women elected through affirmative action seats to also contest open positions.
“When I was elected the first Woman Representative of Mombasa County in 2013, I told Baba that I wanted to contest against men in 2017. Baba and other ODM leaders were uncomfortable with the idea. But we beat a line-up of men to win Likoni and Malindi respectively,” she said.
TVET institutions key for skills development
Meanwhile, Michuki National Polytechnic Chief Principal Anne Mbogo, who won the Outstanding Principal of the Year--Institutional Growth and Innovation Leadership Award, urged parents to support Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
“Some of us did not get A, B or even C grades in KCSE, but today we are great leaders. Let us change that grade E to stand for Excellence,” she said.
Women leaders recognised
Other women recognised at the Jamhuri Kenya Leadership Awards 2026 included:
- Ambassador Josephine Ojiambo
- Kabondo Kasipul MP Dr Eve Obara
- Njoro MP Charity Kathambi Chepkwony
- Gilgil MP Martha Wangari
- Laikipia North MP Sarah Lekorere
- Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia
- Senator Judith Pareno
The awards celebrated leaders making an impact in governance, education, leadership and community empowerment across Kenya.
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