The National Gender and Equality Commission yesterday accused parties of sidelining the disabled and women in their primaries. The commission said political parties did little to ensure the two groups participated in the polls.

Led by the chairperson Winfed Lichuma, the commission said the parties did not use voting materials such as braille and sign language interpreters.

"Only Ford People availed a sign language interpreter in Kisii town," she said. Wiper nominated a woman for county representative in Makueni and a visually impaired aspirant in Kibwezi.

In Baringo, a disabled aspirant was nominated by URP to run for senator. "In Lamu, a woman aspirant is vying for ward representative as an independent candidate and at least two male members of the Ogiek community were nominated for ward representative in Narok County," said Lichuma. Women were nominated for women's representative while the rest of the positions were mostly dominated by men.