Caroline Wafula
16 October 2007
Nairobi — Ms Asha Ali has joined the growing list of women political aspirants who are victims of violence.
The Dandora civic aspirant in the coming General Election, was recently beaten by three men and warned against carrying on with her campaigns.
She was attacked on a Saturday night on her way home from a Party of National Unity (PNU) rally in Nakuru.
Evening had set in by the time she got to Dandora estate where she lives. Three men, one wielding an AK-47 rifle, attacked and beat her thoroughly. They told her to stop her campaigns.
Repeated death threats
Narrating her ordeal later, the Narc Kenya politician said she had, prior to the attack, received repeated death threats from anonymous callers, who openly expressed their displeasure over her political ambitions.
She said the unidentified men had been trailing and monitoring her movements for three days before the fateful day.
"I had been receiving threatening text messages and calls and in one instance, someone called and threatened to cut me into pieces and put my remains in a sack," she said.
On the fateful day, she alighted from a matatu at Pangani and by the time she reached Dandora, it was already 9pm. She asked a watchman to escort her to her house, promising to buy him a packet of milk.
Just before she got to her house, three men appeared from the alleys, one of them brandishing an AK-47 rifle. The watchman fled, leaving her with the attackers.
They demanded money and other valuables as they kicked and hit her. "They said I was from a political rally and there was no way I would not be having money," she recalled.
As they roughed her up, the attackers also warned her against vying for the civic seat. They also told her to go back to where she came from, saying her presence was not needed in the area.
Satisfied that they had accomplished their mission, the gang left her for dead.
She managed to get up moments later and called her children to open the gate.
Ms Ali was escorted to Buru Buru police station before being taken to Nairobi Women's Hospital.
However, she eventually ended up at Coptic Hospital.
Ms Ali's assault is the latest incident since North Imenti parliamentary aspirant Flora Igoki Tera was similarly attacked. Other recent attacks were on Kasarani parliamentary aspirant Orie Rogo-Manduli and Catherine Nkhabi Amayo, who is eyeing the Nambale parliamentary seat.
Observers say although the coming elections present the best opportunity to bridge the large gap between men and women in political leadership, the campaign period is increasingly being characterised by violence directed at women.
Ms Amayo, 29, was attacked and injured by supporters of her opponents on September 15. The aspirant was told to quit politics.
In Chuka last week, a civic aspirant, Ms Aileen Kaari Nyaga, appealed for security after rowdy people broke down her steel gate and hurled insults at her.
The Kiang'ondu ward aspirant said a group of people drove into her compound after breaking the gate at 1.30am and started insulting her.
In all these incidents, however, the victims have vowed to carry on with their campaigns.
But they are pleading with the Government and the Electoral Commission of Kenya to take firm action against the perpetrators. They want security provided to all women aspirants.
Ms Igoki says the attack, has only made her stronger.
"The struggle continues. There is no retreat and no surrender," she says,.
Ms Kaari has pleaded with the police to ensure her security. She says her attackers threatened to rape her if she did not drop her bid.
A cross section of leaders has condemned the violence against women aspirants.
Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) secretary-general Alice Kirambi says the attacks were worrying.
Mrs Kirambi, who is a herself an aspirant for the Sabatia parliamentary seat on a Kaddu ticket, accuses the police of doing little to arrest those assaulting women.
The Federation of Women Lawyers (Fida) says violence directed at women aspirants was one of the major challenges that women have to endure in competitive politics.
Fida's message to the female aspirants, however, is that they should not relent on their political aspirations, since this will encourage the perpetrators.
Human rights activist and lawyer Ann Njogu, who is an aspirant for the Kamukunji parliamentary seat, has called on President Kibaki to issue a directive against violence against women aspirants.
She predicts more violence as political parties head to nominations. Ms Njogu challenges Internal Security minister John Michuki to show evidence that the Government was safeguarding women running for elective posts in this year's poll.
Another aspirant, Ms Leonida Anguba, says all aspirants should refrain from using words or actions that can instigate violence.
The civic aspirant in Maraba ward in Lurambi constituency, urges all involved in the electoral process to uphold peace during the electioneering period.
US ambassador to Kenya Michael Rannerbeger says his government was closely monitoring the electoral process.
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