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Karua accuses female politicians of abandoning fight for women’s rights
23rd July, 2025 10:30 AM
PLP leader Martha Karua has criticised women elected to public office for failing to represent and amplify the voice of women in Parliament, accusing them of aligning themselves with a patriarchal system at the expense of the very constituency they were elected to serve.
Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Karua expressed disappointment with the current state of women’s leadership in the country.
Despite the National Assembly having over 70 women, she noted that many have chosen to conform to male-dominated political structures rather than stand up for women’s rights and national issues affecting all Kenyans.
“Today’s parliament, although it has 70 women, dance to the tunes not of their fellow women but to the tunes of patriarchal leadership that we have in the country in the National Assembly. They are not carrying on as women’s messengers or amplifying the voice of the woman,” Karua stated.
Karua challenged voters to rethink the kind of leaders they elect, urging Kenyans to choose independent-minded women leaders who are not controlled or influenced by political masters but who stand firm in addressing both national and gender-specific concerns.
She stressed the importance of electing women who think for themselves and take bold positions on critical issues.
“This is something we need to rethink: women and people of Kenya, when it comes to elections, elect independent women, women who think for themselves, women who do not wait to be told what to do, women who will carry national issues on behalf of Kenyans and women’s issues,” she added.
Role of Woman Rep
Addressing the role of women representatives, Karua underscored the need for women leaders to embrace their positions with pride and not shy away from being associated with the title.
She called out those who, after benefiting from affirmative seats, disassociate themselves from the label “woman representative” as if being identified as a woman in leadership is something to be ashamed of.
“Who are not afraid to be called women representatives – not women who come on women’s tickets – but they want the name changed from women as if something is wrong with being a woman,” she concluded.
