KEWOPA Roundtable Pushes for Legislative Action to Advance Women’s Political Leadership

Women parliamentarians, political leaders, civil society actors, development partners, funders and business leaders have renewed calls for bold legislative reforms and sustained investment to accelerate gender equity in elected leadership across Africa.

The high-level roundtable, convened by the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) in partnership with Nalafem, focused on practical pathways to increasing women’s representation in political leadership and addressing longstanding barriers that continue to limit their participation.

Participants agreed that achieving gender equity requires more than policy commitments, emphasizing the need for concrete legislative action, stronger political will and sustained financing to create an enabling environment for women seeking elective office.

The forum examined key challenges, including the delayed implementation of Kenya’s Two-Thirds Gender Principle, unequal access to campaign financing, institutional weaknesses and the growing threat of technology-facilitated violence and sexual and gender-based violence targeting women in politics.

Speakers stressed that these obstacles continue to discourage many capable women from contesting elective positions and undermine inclusive democratic governance.

Discussions centred on strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing political party accountability, improving digital safety for women leaders and investing in women-led movements that nurture future political leaders. Delegates also exchanged experiences from across the continent, highlighting successful interventions that could be replicated ahead of upcoming electoral processes.

The working session concluded with a commitment to identify priority legislative reforms, mobilise strategic funding and build partnerships capable of driving implementation and accountability. Participants underscored that governments, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector all have a shared responsibility to accelerate women’s political participation.

Among those in attendance was Dr. Jennifer Riria, Chief Executive Officer of Echo Network Africa, whose contribution drew praise from participants for its depth and practical perspective. Dr. Riria challenged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and invest in sustainable systems that empower women to lead, emphasizing that inclusive leadership is fundamental to democratic governance and Africa’s long-term development.

The roundtable reaffirmed that increasing women’s representation in elected leadership is not only a matter of equality but also a governance imperative that requires coordinated action, institutional reform and sustained commitment across all sectors