FIDA-Kenya Urges Political Parties to Adopt Transparent and Inclusive Nomination Rules Ahead of the 2027 General Election, Calling for Equal Opportunities for Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities to Compete for Leadership Positions.
The Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) has called on political parties to make their nomination processes fairer, more transparent and inclusive ahead of the 2027 General Election. The organisation wants parties to strengthen their internal structures and equip women, young people and persons with disabilities with the knowledge and support needed to compete for elective positions.
FIDA-Kenya says political participation should go beyond allowing aspirants to declare their interest in leadership. Political parties must also ensure that their nomination procedures give all eligible candidates a fair opportunity to participate, understand the rules and seek redress whenever they believe the process has been unfair.
The appeal comes as political parties begin reviewing and preparing their election and nomination rules for the next general election. With parties facing important regulatory deadlines in October and November 2026, the organisation believes there is an opportunity to address longstanding barriers that have limited the participation of women and other underrepresented groups in politics.
The call has placed internal party democracy, gender equality and access to political opportunities at the centre of discussions about preparations for the 2027 polls.
FIDA-Kenya Wants Political Parties to Strengthen Internal Democracy
FIDA-Kenya has urged political parties to invest in the capacity of women aspirants and representatives of women’s, youth and persons with disabilities leagues. It says these groups need practical support to understand party constitutions, nomination rules, leadership structures and the procedures used to select candidates.
The organisation has been engaging political parties on gender-responsive election rules, inclusive decision-making, women’s leadership and measures to prevent sexual harassment, political intimidation and technology-facilitated gender-based violence.
One of these engagements took place in Kisumu County on October 7, 2026, where participants discussed how party nomination rules affect women, young people and persons with disabilities.
The discussions highlighted concerns that some women aspirants and representatives of party leagues lack sufficient knowledge of internal party structures and nomination procedures. This can make it difficult for them to influence decisions, compete effectively for party tickets or challenge decisions they consider unfair.
FIDA-Kenya believes political parties should respond by providing training and practical guidance before nomination exercises begin. Such support could help aspirants understand the requirements for seeking party tickets, identify the officials responsible for nomination decisions and follow the correct channels when disputes arise.
The organisation’s position is that fair competition requires more than publishing nomination rules. Aspirants must be able to understand those rules, access relevant information and participate in a process that applies the same standards to everyone.
Political parties also need internal systems that allow members to raise concerns without fear of intimidation or discrimination. Where complaints arise, clear procedures should enable parties to address them promptly and transparently.
Women Remain Underrepresented in Electoral Politics
The renewed call for fairer nominations comes against the background of persistent gender inequality in Kenya’s political landscape.
According to figures cited from an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission report published in 2023, women accounted for 1,962 of the 16,100 candidates cleared to contest in the 2022 General Election. That represented approximately 12.18 per cent of all cleared candidates.
The figures illustrate the scale of women’s underrepresentation among people seeking elective office. Although limited access to information and training is not the only explanation, FIDA-Kenya says institutional weaknesses within political parties must be addressed alongside broader social and economic barriers.
Women seeking political office can face difficulties accessing campaign resources, building influential political networks and securing support from party leaders. Some also encounter gender stereotypes that question their leadership abilities or place unfair expectations on their personal and family lives.
These obstacles can become particularly significant during party nominations, when aspirants compete for the endorsement that allows them to represent a political party in the general election.
In some constituencies, the nomination process can be as politically consequential as the general election itself. A candidate who secures a popular party ticket may enter the general election with an established support network, while an aspirant who loses may struggle to mount an independent campaign.
This makes the fairness of party nominations especially important for women and other candidates who have limited financial resources or lack strong connections within party leadership.
FIDA-Kenya wants parties to create systems that allow candidates to compete on clear and consistently applied rules rather than relying on personal connections, political influence or access to powerful party officials.
Constitution Provides a Foundation for Inclusive Leadership
Kenya’s Constitution provides important principles that support the call for more inclusive political participation.
Article 27 guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination, while Article 81(b) establishes the principle that no more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies should be of the same gender.
Article 91 outlines the basic requirements for political parties, including democratic principles and respect for gender equality and equity. Article 100 calls for legislative measures to promote the representation of women, persons with disabilities, youth, ethnic and other minorities, and marginalised communities.
These provisions provide a constitutional basis for efforts to improve access to political leadership. However, translating them into meaningful participation requires practical action by political parties, electoral institutions and other stakeholders.
FIDA-Kenya’s appeal highlights the difference between having constitutional protections on paper and ensuring that aspirants can exercise their rights in practice.
For instance, a party may formally permit women to seek nomination, but the opportunity may remain limited if aspirants cannot access information, participate in internal decision-making or obtain the resources needed to campaign effectively.
Likewise, young people and persons with disabilities may be eligible to compete but still encounter barriers linked to funding, accessibility, discrimination or the design of party activities.
Fairer nomination rules should therefore be accompanied by accessible information, transparent procedures, adequate representation in party structures and reliable mechanisms for handling complaints.
The objective is not simply to increase the number of candidates from underrepresented groups. It is to ensure that they have a meaningful opportunity to compete and that their participation can influence political decision-making.
Sexual Harassment, Intimidation and Online Abuse Remain Concerns
FIDA-Kenya has also drawn attention to the security challenges that can discourage women from participating in electoral politics.
Women aspirants may face sexual harassment, threats, intimidation and attacks intended to pressure them into abandoning their political ambitions. Such experiences can affect their confidence, personal safety and ability to campaign freely.
The problem extends beyond physical campaign events. Social media platforms and other digital channels can expose women in politics to harassment, threats and gender-based attacks intended to damage their reputations or discourage them from seeking leadership positions.
FIDA-Kenya’s 2022 Election Sexual Gender-Based Violence report found that 52 per cent of the sexual and gender-based violence cases documented in its study involved online violence, according to figures cited in recent reporting.
The finding highlights the importance of addressing digital abuse as part of wider efforts to make electoral participation safer. Online harassment can silence aspirants, discourage supporters from engaging in political discussions and create an environment in which women face additional personal costs for seeking office.
Political parties have a role to play in preventing such behaviour. They can establish clear codes of conduct, provide accessible reporting channels and ensure that complaints of harassment or intimidation receive appropriate attention.
Party leaders should also communicate that violence and harassment are unacceptable regardless of an aspirant’s political influence, gender or position within the organisation.
As the 2027 election approaches, measures to protect candidates will be important not only for women but also for the wider credibility of the electoral process. Citizens should be able to support candidates, attend political meetings and participate in campaigns without facing threats or violence.
Political Parties Face Important Nomination Rules Deadlines
FIDA-Kenya’s call comes at a crucial stage in preparations for the 2027 General Election, as political parties work to meet regulatory requirements governing their internal election processes.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties set October 16, 2026, as the deadline for political parties to submit their election and nomination rules. The rules are expected to be certified by October 30 before certified versions are submitted to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission by November 6, 2026.
These deadlines give parties an opportunity to review their nomination procedures and address concerns before the next election cycle advances.
The rules are important because they establish how parties select candidates, communicate nomination requirements and organise the internal processes through which aspirants compete for party tickets.
Transparent rules can help reduce confusion and disputes by informing candidates about eligibility requirements, nomination methods, timelines and the procedures for challenging decisions.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and the IEBC also have important roles in ensuring that parties meet their legal obligations.
However, regulatory compliance should not be treated as a paperwork exercise alone. A party may submit the required documents and still face criticism if its procedures are not implemented fairly or if members cannot access a credible dispute-resolution process.
FIDA-Kenya is therefore urging parties to consider whether their rules genuinely support equal participation and democratic decision-making.
The period before the 2027 election offers parties an opportunity to demonstrate that they can organise competitive nominations while protecting the rights of their members.
Women, Youth and Persons with Disabilities Need Practical Support
One of FIDA-Kenya’s central demands is that political parties invest in building the capacity of aspirants from groups that have traditionally faced barriers to leadership.
Training can help prospective candidates understand party constitutions, electoral procedures, campaign planning, leadership responsibilities and the mechanisms available for resolving nomination disputes.
Such programmes could also help aspirants understand the financial and administrative demands of running for office, including campaign organisation, communication with voters and compliance with electoral requirements.
For women, youth and persons with disabilities, access to this information can help reduce the disadvantages associated with unfamiliarity with party systems.
Party leagues representing these groups should also have opportunities to contribute to decisions about nomination rules rather than serving only as structures for mobilisation during campaigns.
Meaningful participation requires that their representatives can raise concerns, influence internal policies and hold party leadership accountable for commitments on inclusion.
Persons with disabilities may require additional measures to ensure that meetings, nomination venues and information materials are accessible. Political parties should consider these needs when designing their activities rather than treating accessibility as an afterthought.
Women with disabilities can face overlapping barriers linked to gender and disability, making it particularly important for parties to adopt approaches that respond to different experiences.
Young aspirants, meanwhile, may need support in navigating party structures, gaining access to leadership opportunities and competing against better-established political figures.
FIDA-Kenya’s call suggests that parties should not wait until nominations are underway to address these challenges. Capacity-building and inclusion efforts should begin early enough to prepare aspirants for meaningful participation.
Access to Political Resources Also Matters
Fair nominations depend on more than the wording of party rules. Access to political resources can also influence who is able to compete effectively.
Discussions held during FIDA-Kenya’s engagement in Kisumu included concerns about whether resources from the Political Parties Fund reach grassroots members and benefit women, young people and persons with disabilities.
Access to resources can affect an aspirant’s ability to organise meetings, communicate with voters, travel across a constituency and build a campaign team.
Candidates with strong financial backing or established political networks may enjoy advantages over aspirants who lack similar support. These differences can become especially significant where nomination campaigns require substantial expenditure.
FIDA-Kenya’s wider call for institutional support highlights the importance of examining how parties distribute opportunities and resources among their members.
Transparent funding arrangements and clear criteria for allocating support can help reduce perceptions of favouritism. Parties can also provide shared training, accessible campaign information and equal access to nomination-related services.
At the same time, resource allocation should follow applicable laws and party rules. Fairness does not mean that every candidate must receive identical assistance in every circumstance, but parties should be able to explain their decisions using clear and legitimate criteria.
Greater transparency could help members understand how decisions are made and provide a basis for challenging practices that appear discriminatory or inconsistent with established rules.
Fair Nominations Could Strengthen Public Confidence
Political party nominations have a direct bearing on the quality of democratic competition in Kenya.
When members believe that nomination exercises are fair, they are more likely to accept the outcome, remain engaged with their parties and support the candidates selected through the process.
Conversely, disputed nominations can create divisions, weaken party unity and push dissatisfied aspirants towards independent campaigns or rival political parties.
Concerns about nomination procedures can also affect voters’ confidence in political organisations. If party leaders promise transparent competition but appear to favour particular candidates, members may question whether ordinary citizens have a meaningful voice in determining who represents them.
FIDA-Kenya’s appeal therefore extends beyond the interests of individual aspirants. It raises broader questions about accountability, public participation and the role of political parties in a democratic system.
Parties that adopt clear nomination rules, publish relevant information and provide credible complaint mechanisms can help reduce avoidable disputes.
They can also demonstrate that political leadership should be determined through legitimate processes rather than intimidation, exclusion or decisions made without adequate consultation.
The IEBC has separately identified chaotic party nominations, political goonism and other security concerns as potential threats to peaceful elections. These concerns reinforce the importance of preparing credible nomination procedures well before voting day.
Fair internal processes cannot eliminate every source of electoral conflict, but they can help prevent disputes that arise from confusion, exclusion or a lack of trust.
What Political Parties Must Do Before 2027
As the next General Election approaches, political parties face an opportunity to turn commitments to inclusion into practical changes.
They can begin by reviewing their constitutions and nomination rules to identify provisions that create unnecessary barriers or fail to protect equal participation. They should communicate the rules clearly and ensure that aspirants have enough time to understand the requirements before nominations begin.
Parties can also establish transparent procedures for handling complaints, publish nomination schedules and provide clear information about eligibility requirements and the officials responsible for making decisions.
Training programmes for women, youth and persons with disabilities should be practical and accessible. Such programmes should cover the nomination process, campaign preparation, leadership skills and available channels for resolving disputes.
Party officials should also take allegations of harassment, intimidation and online abuse seriously. Clear reporting procedures and appropriate responses can help create an environment in which aspirants are able to campaign without being pressured to withdraw.
Equally important is the need to involve grassroots members in decisions that affect their participation. Consultation should allow women’s, youth and disability leagues to raise concerns and contribute to the design of nomination procedures.
These measures would not automatically eliminate every challenge facing aspirants. However, they could help create a more predictable and accountable environment in which candidates understand the rules and have a fair opportunity to compete.
A Test of Political Parties’ Commitment to Equality
FIDA-Kenya’s call for fairer party nominations places responsibility on political organisations to demonstrate that inclusion is a practical commitment rather than a campaign promise.
The organisation maintains that strengthening women’s political leadership requires more than formally opening opportunities to contest. Aspirants need knowledge, practical support and institutional backing to navigate party systems and compete fairly.
The coming months will therefore be important as parties review their nomination rules and prepare for the 2027 electoral cycle. Their decisions will help determine whether women, young people and persons with disabilities can participate more meaningfully in selecting candidates and shaping political leadership.
For voters, fair nominations matter because they influence the range of candidates available during the general election. For aspirants, they determine whether political ambition can be pursued through clear, accessible and credible procedures.
Kenya’s constitutional principles provide a foundation for equality and inclusion, but their impact will depend on how institutions implement them.
As the country moves closer to the 2027 polls, political parties will face growing expectations to demonstrate transparency, protect candidates from intimidation and ensure that nomination processes are open to genuine competition.
FIDA-Kenya’s message is clear: a more inclusive electoral process begins long before election day. It begins within political parties, where the rules are written, candidates are selected and opportunities for leadership are either opened or restricted.
