A group of elders and the youth from Lagdera constituency have started a campaign that will ensure the only woman candidate for the seat is elected as the next MP.
With the help of an NGO- Echo network Africa, the residents have embarked on a vigorous campaign that will see them go on a door to door campaign to campaign UDM candidate Malyun Farah.
The Somali community is largely a patriarchal society which still values men leadership as opposed to women leadership.
This combined with retrogressive cultural beliefs which further oppress women.
However according to Jawahir Abdi, from Lagdera one of those involved in the campaign said that they residents were determined to change the narrative and perception towards women in the society.
Speaking to the press at a Garissa hotel during a one day workshop that brought together the youth,women and elders from Lagdera constituency, Jawahir said that this time round the community have decided to support women aspiring for leadership positions.
“For a long time we have had very bad leaders who are mostly men who don’t do much in terms of bringing development in their respective areas. and that is what we are saying why don’t we try women,” she said.
She added: “But to change that it will mean going to the community and talking to people and convincing them to give a women a chance to lead. the good thing is that the community is responding positively and are more than ever willing to give a woman a chance to lead,” she said.
Among the challenges she said women are faced with are domineering husbands who force them to vote for candidates of their choices.
Abdirashid Mohamed said that said that they have decided to give women a chance to lead adding that men have proved to be disappointing .
“truth be told my we have lagged behind in terms of development because of our failure to trust our mothers and sisters forgetting that these are the propel who will never disappoint because they understand very well the challenges people go through on a day today basis and will always be there to address them when they arise unlike men who after being elected disappear and go to Nairobi only to resurface after five years,” said Mohamed.
George Njeru from Echo Network regretted that despite the promulgation of the 2010 new constitution, women leadership especially in Northeastern has not been embraced by the residents.
He said that it was for this reason that they have decided to work closely with the electorates to try and not only change the narrative but also ensure that more women are elected in the august polls.
He said that women who have been given an opportunity to lead have done well further emphasizing on the need for residents in the region to trust them with leadership position .