Voting excercise,let all women participate Recently i conducted a survey on the role of women as voters or aspirants in the forthcoming general elections.As we all know that the general elections are due towards the end of this year after president Mwai Kibaki said that they won't be pushed towards early next year.A section of politicians had wanted the elections to be pushed to early next year so that they could facilitate for minimum costitutional reforms. I decided to visit various places in order to get the views of women on this topic.What came out clearly is that majority of them are facing situations which might hinder them for actively participating in this excercise.   Mary Mumbi for example is a mother of three children and lives at subukia in Nakuru area.She says that she does not see the reason of her getting involved with the excercise for it will not change her destiny in any way.She say that her husband is in anticipation for the election and has identified the leaders and the party he will vote for.I don't think i am going to vote!What for?Poverty and insecurity are overtaking us!The gap between the poor and the rich peoople is widening and no matter how a poor man tries to work hard inorder to improve her livelyhood;nothing seems to change. Mumbi says she does not have a voter's card and irrespective of the ECK pushing the registration deadline to 31st of this month,she says she will not register.i will loose nothing are her concluding words. Naserian is a young lady aged 24 and a computer student.She lives in Kajiado town.I meet with her on her way home from college and want to find out from her how well prepared she is for this year general elections which are expected in the month of December.I am not sure whether am ready to vote.Naserian says in her community majority of women don't take the voting excercise seriously simply because they have been socialised into believing that politics is the men world and women should simply keep off.The issue of gender imbalance has taken roots my community for many years and it seems like women are not ready to embrace the change in political scenario.Naserian says on the voting day, only a few women who turns out for the excercise.Most women are forced to wait for their men conterparts to vote first; before they are allowed to do so and have to leave the polling station immediately.They can't monitor the election process in any way and those who tries to do so are taught lessons by their husbands through thorough beating.   I am surprised to learn that even though Naserian is a registered voter, she has not made up her minds whether she will vote.She says she is not interested in any way with the voting excercise.I know that majority of women in our community who are aged 18 and above don't participate in the excercise due to ignorance.They don't really know what leadership is all about and a few of us who knows have given up trying.To be ignorant is quite costly although the law says ignorance is not a defence. Mrs Janet otieno is a teacher cum business woman and a mother of 8 children. she comes from Nyanza province.She says that there is a great need for civic education in her community if women are expected to participate in the voting excercise during this year general elections.Janet says women need to change their attitude concerning elections.she is worried because even though women makes 51 per cent of the kenyan voters they don't really know that they have the power to put in place the leadership which will benefit them wholistically.Janet point out that many kenyan women are the bread winners in their familes like in her case and it is only them who knows what a bad government truly means.   She says she will participate in the voting excercise because she is not happy with a few issues which have not been addressed so far regardless of the current member of parliament promising to do something about it.Take for example the issue of poor infrustructure,insecurity among others;in most cases it is the women who fall victims when such problems arises.We have had cases of rape in my area,not forgetting robbery with violence which is rampant here.Many lives have been lost as a result of this and property worthy million of shillings get stolen any other day whenever these robbers breaks into our houses.We live in constant fear.I hope that my vote will help to elect accountable leaders who will have our interests as kenyans at heart.   Stella Nduku a curio and honey seller from makindu.She is ready to vote during this year general elections.She says she is not surprised by the way her women counterparts are dragging their feet if though they know that elections are expected few months from now.Many have not yet registered.I know that they are waiting for eleventh hour so that they can rush to register themselves.I have seen it happens before says Nduku.She says that women should be encouraged to participate in the voting excercise for they make the majority of kenyan voters.They should know of their rights and the power they have as voters.They should be prepared to vote out the bad leaders we have had in the past.Nduku says women should do away with the strereotypes that the society has concerning them. Women parliamentary aspirants are seen as prostitutes and people who have lost direction in their lives.She says a case at hand is the bishop Margaret Wanjiru of the Jesus is Alive Ministries saga.She was ridiculed and per pivate life brought to public domain by her political rivals,when she declared her interest as a parliamentary aspirant for Starehe constituency.All these was done to her by her enemies who wanted her to quit politics.Men uses the stereotype that we women are our worst enemies but i choose to differ with this.Why are men so selfish that they can't allow their women to go and vote?My husband did that for me in the year 2002 general election but this year am making sure that i will vote when the time comes.They tell their women to remain at home on the voting day so that they can take care of the diomestic chores.I have faith in women and believe that if they are given a fair playing ground in politics of the day;they can make better leaders for they know what they want in leadership.Many are forced to become breadwinners of the families as their husbands engage in alcoholism and drug and thus becoming irresponsible.I am urging all women in Kenya who have reached the voting age to take advantage of the extention of the registration deadline and register as voters.They should make sure that they vote for it will bring change in governance issues.   Those were Nduku's parting words.I leave the verdict in the hands of Kenyan women.Will they vote for their leader's of choice?Time will tell although what came out strongly is the need for civic education country wide.ECK,the ball in in your court now!