Women activists in Mombasa have strongly criticised female leaders in the county and across the coastal region, accusing them of failing to fulfill their leadership mandates.
The activists noted that instead of championing community needs and advocating for better services at the grassroots level, some women leaders have resorted to making sexist remarks in public forums.
Speaking at a recent forum in Mombasa, gender and human rights defender Christine Khabuya described the women leaders as a “total disgrace” to the society.
“It is shameful for a woman leader to stand in a public forum and claim that a good man is the one who lasts two rounds in bed. Did we elect you to expose yourself as a sex object to your male counterparts?” posed Khabuya.
She argued that communities—especially women, youth, children, and persons with disabilities—had expected progressive changes from female leaders. Instead, many have been reduced to “cheerleaders,” singing and dancing for male politicians.
Objectified
Khabuya further criticised incidents where female politicians were objectified in public rallies.
“We recently saw a woman leader displayed on a podium like an orange, as male politicians asked whether her body shape was ‘approved.’ Such acts demean women and show how far our leaders have strayed from their responsibilities,” she added.
Calling for accountability, Khabuya urged Kenyans, particularly coastal voters, to reject “irresponsible and incompetent leaders” in the 2027 General Elections.
Assignment
Her sentiments were echoed by Harriet Muganda, an activist with the First Action Social Justice Centre, who accused women politicians of neglecting urgent issues.
“While activists are struggling with gender-based violence, human rights violations, and child abuse cases, the very leaders we elected to fight for us are instead busy campaigning for their male colleagues,” Muganda lamented.
She questioned whether such behavior could ever inspire the next generation of young women to join politics.
“These leaders have completely drained our hopes of getting the best from women in power. It is time for Kenyans to prepare and vote them out in 2027,” she concluded.
