Politics is always dirtier for Kenyan women

So Trump won, despite his racial hate spewing, apparent lack of smarts and appalling disrespect for women. Well, what America wants America gets.

But this is Kenya, a country where a celebrated foreign musician kicks his dancer and we send him packing, the Media will refer to the Government as “Majamabazi” for stealing pubic funds and nobody gets detained (teargas is good for physical fitness).

Like any other banana republic, we have our skeletons but we occasionally show flashes of brilliance. Until a woman seeks elective office.

Our political debates, for lack of a better word, are shouting matches where angry politicians yell into microphones and stab the air viciously, saliva drooling from their lips. But when a woman is contesting, the men turn the debates into who has the loudest and foulest mouth.

Let us take those seeking Nairobi gubernatorial for instance, a race that has, pardon the pun, attracted every type of urban jungle creature — from the slimy and slithering, the cunning yet timid to the roaring bullies. These are the people we expect to debate how Nairobi will become an effective 24 hour economy, how to reduce unemployment so that graduates can stop walking down the streets with placards and make hospitals and schools safe. And need I mention the garbage and traffic menace?

But what do we get? A foul mouth that rubbishes everyone. That is not a mark of leadership; it purveys a twisted personality. There is no honor in assassinating the character of a female opponent and hitting her below the belt. Simple minded men are fond of shoving sexuality and playing the marriage card against female opponents.

I know of a female politician in Luo Nyanza who is seeking elective office in her home area. But right where she was born, male opponents whose brains have migrated to the scrotum scream at her, “Whore! Go get married. You have no say where men are! Women leadership is cursed!” What is wrong with Kenyan men? How can you revere your mothers but still say the most nonsensical things about women?

A politician who bandies the rape word carelessly should even be barred from running for office. Imagine the thousands of rape victims who shiver whenever the word is mentioned. Rape is a vicious violation of men and women which imprints a permanent scar physically, emotionally and psychologically on its victims. It is not the sort of drivel you inject into the trivia that passes for our political debates.   

What is more shocking is that there are chauvinists, some fairly well educated, I must add, who find nothing wrong with a politician who speaks in this manner. We live in a truly sick society.

A woman’s leadership qualities have nothing to do with her marital status or how beautiful she is. It behoves every male politician who aspires to be a leader to engage, debate and challenge her based on what lies above her neck.

Dressing her down with uncouth and demeaning words is a cheap shot. To paraphrase Hollywood actress and Trump supporter Susan Sarandon, women don’t lead with their vaginas.

But having said that, women should also stop using the sexist card to play victim and elicit sympathy; Hilary tried it and failed miserably. It is not like the world is not ready for female leaders; it is, from Liberia to Germany. But these women proved their worth and tackled issues. They stood to be counted and proved to be forces to reckon with.

The shitty supuu slogans awash with city female politicians are not only juvenile and scatterbrained but also breed disrespect for the gender. Also, don’t throw punches and expect to be lauded. Stay away from politics if you can’t stand the heat

Have you ever seen male politicians taking cheap shots at Martha Karua, Cecily Mbarire or Millie Odhiambo?

sotieno2@standardmedia.co.ke