Female Candidate Overcomes Discrimination During Kenyan Elections

Wavinya Ndeti, a candidate running for governor of the Machakos county near Nairobi, Kenya, has recently opened up to an international news outlet about the sexist and xenophobic bullying she has dealt with during her campaign.

Presently, there are more than 10 women running for similar governing positions in the country. If elected, Ndeti will become Machakos county’s first female governor.

However, the process has not been an easy one. An effort has been made to discredit the 54-year-old’s qualifications, to the point where a complaint against her was filed with the local electoral commission. 

Ndeti responded by sharing her graduation photos from her time spent in England, where she earned a degree in Computer Science from South Bank University, as well as her Masters in Business Systems Analysis and Design from City University.

Ndeti has also faced discrimination over her marriage to a Nigerian-British national, the late Dolamu Henry Oduwole. However, male politicians also running for elections have not had the same point used against them. 

“When they come at me, I’m usually encouraged because it shows that I’m doing something right,” the mother of four said.

The governmental elections will be held on 9 August.

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