UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI WOMEN`S PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SPACES: THE CASE OF MARRIAGE & POLITICS IN KENYA Anika Jane Dorothy Reg. No. M10/ 86367/2016 Thesis Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Master of Arts in Women, Leadership and Governance in Africa of the African Women Studies Centre, University of Nairobi 2018 DECLARATION This Thesis is my original work and has not been presented for a degree in any other University. Signature: ………………………………. Date: …….………………................ Anika Jane Dorothy Reg. No. M10/86367/2016 This Thesis was submitted for examination with my approval as the University supervisor. Signature: …………………… Date: ……13/12/2018.………… Dr. Lanoi Maloiy University of Nairobi Signature: ………………………………. Date: …….………………................ Dr. MaryGoretti Akinyi University of Nairobi ii DEDICATION This thesis is dedicated to all women aspiring and succeeding in their public spaces. It is to show and narrate to them that the journey has been long and they are part of a story that will be told with nostalgia when we actually achieve equity in gender. I also commend the African Women Study Center for the milestone of creating a platform for African women to learn about themselves and to enable them contribute to the governance of their nations. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT It is with great humility and gratitude that I wish to acknowledge the many sources of moral and intellectual encouragement I benefited from while undertaking this study. I thank God for the giving me the grace and patience to come this far. I wish to offer my earnest thanks to my classmates and course supervisors for their astute direction. Professor Wanjiku Kabira without whom I would not have been able to pursue this great course. I thank her for according me the opportunity and support to undertake the study. Second, I remain grateful to Dr. Lanoi Maloy whose help was unmatched and she never tired in her guidance. Many thanks goes out to the staff at the AWCS for their help and comprehension while undertaking this examination. I am also grateful to Richard Mokaya Moseti whose continuous encouragement kept me going to complete this thesis. My mother`s guidance remains unparalleled, my father, Eng. Aineah, made tremendous sacrifices to ensure I registered for this course and for that I am eternally grateful. iv ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AAWORD Association of African Women for Research and Development AWSC African Women Studies Centre CCGD Collaborative Centre for Gender and Development CEDAW Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women COVAW (K) Coalition on Violence Against Women – Kenya FIDA Federation of Women Lawyers KANU Kenya African National Union KEWOPA Kenya Women Parliamentary Association KWPC Kenya Women`s Political Caucus LKWV League of Kenya Women Voters LSK Law Society of Kenya MP Member of Parliament MYWO Maendeleo Ya Wanawake NCSW National Commission on the Status of Women SMS Short Message Service USAID United States Agency for International Development WPA-K Women`s Political Alliance of Kenya WSP-K Women`s Shadow Parliament – Kenya ODM Orange Democratic Party v TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION............................................................................................................... ii DEDICATION.................................................................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENT ................................................................................................. iv ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ..........................................................................v ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................1 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ............................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Statement of the Problem .......................................................................................... 5 1.3 General Objective ...................................................................................................... 7 1.3.1 Specific Objectives ............................................................................................. 7 1.4 Research Questions ................................................................................................... 8 1.5 Justification of the Study ........................................................................................... 8 1.6 Scope of the Study..................................................................................................... 9 1.7 Limitation of the Study ........................................................................................... 10 1.8 Chapter Outline ....................................................................................................... 10 CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ...............................................................11 2.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 11 2.1 Empirical Review .................................................................................................... 11 2.1.1 Entry Into the Public Spaces ............................................................................. 18 2.2.2 Access to the public space ................................................................................ 19 2.1.3 Women’s Equal Access to Public Space in relation with Cultural Barriers ..... 21 2.2 Marriage in The Context Of Public & Private Spaces ............................................ 25 2.3 Feminist Political Theory ........................................................................................ 29 2.4 Marriage in the African Context ............................................................................. 33 2.5 Marriage & Politics in the Kenyan Context ............................................................ 37 CHAPTER THREE: HISTORIC CONTEXT OF KENYAN WOMEN IN THEIR PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SPACES ...............................................................................42 3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 42 3.1 Pre-Colonial Times ................................................................................................. 42 vi 3.2 Colonial Period ........................................................................................................ 44 3.3 Post Independence ................................................................................................... 48 3.4 Post 2010- The New Constitution ........................................................................... 52 3.5 Summary ................................................................................................................. 57 CHAPTER FOUR: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY .................................................58 4.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 58 4.1 Research Design ...................................................................................................... 58 4.2 Data Collection Methods ......................................................................................... 59 4.3 Data Analysis .......................................................................................................... 59 4.4 Validity of the Data ................................................................................................. 60 4.5 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 61 CHAPTER FIVE: DATA ANALYSIS...........................................................................62 5.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 62 5.1 Demographic Data on the Women Politicians Analysed Herein ............................ 62 5.2 Challenges Facing Women Seeking Elective Office at their Home of Birth .......... 70 5.3 Challenges Facing Women Seeking Elective Office at their Marital Homes ......... 76 5.4 Challenges Facing Women Seeking Elective Office Whose Home of Birth is also their Marital Home. ................................................................................................ 77 5.5 The Effect of Not Being Officially Married While Seeking Public Office ............ 78 5.6 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 81 CHAPTER SIX: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................................................................83 6.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................. 83 6.1 Summary of the Findings ........................................................................................ 84 6.2 Recommendations of the Study .............................................................................. 88 REFERENCES ................................................................................................................