Photo: Judie Kaberia

Female politicians in Kenya faced stiff competition from their male counterparts with only 16 elected to parliament out of 290 seats.

AS the world marks the International women day on March 8, women are still sidelined and denied full support in political engagements.

Lobby groups dealing with women empowerment and gender based violence and women with disability at the coast have faulted the manner in which the women vying for political seats were not given the chance to lead.

Coast women in development director Betty Sharon said women have been empowered and it was time to empower the men to support their female counterparts.

"We want to go throughout the country and start engaging men in talks to start understanding that women need their support and break the patriarchy notion that women cannot lead," she said.

She said it is unfortunate that all the women who stood up for elective post at the coast were trounced saying that it was time to change the old guard for the developments of the region.

"The county women representative seat is not enough for us we need as many women as possible in governance," she said.

Hamisa Zaja the chairlady of Coast association of persons with disability said women with disability in the region are the most affected by discrimination.

"We really fear for women with disability because the likes of Mary Wambui of Othaya were treated badly and they are financially stable, what about us at the ground who have nothing?" she posed.