Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohamed and her Kwale counterpart Fatuma Masito are facing an uphill battle as they seek re-election in 2027, hoping to break a long-standing trend in which every woman elected to the positions since 2013 has served only one term.
Since the first elections under Kenya’s 2010 Constitution in 2013, voters in both counties have consistently elected new Woman Representatives every five years.
In Mombasa, Asha Hussein became the county’s first Woman Representative in 2013 on an ODM ticket but failed to retain her seat in 2017 after losing to Mishi Mboko.
During the 2022 General Election, Ms. Mboko successfully contested the Likoni parliamentary seat, paving the way for Zamzam Mohamed to win the Woman Representative position.
In Kwale County, the late Zainab Chidzuga was elected as the first Woman Representative in 2013 but lost to Zuleikha Hassan in 2017. Ms. Hassan, in turn, was defeated by Fatuma Masito of ODM in the 2022 elections.
Both Ms. Mohamed and Ms. Masito have already begun laying strategies to overturn the one-term pattern in their respective counties.
Ms. Mohamed says she is confident of securing another term, insisting that her development record will earn her the support of Mombasa voters.
She said she remains committed to serving residents and is prepared to contest the election either within or outside ODM, alleging that there are plans to deny her the party’s nomination ticket.
She has also announced her intention to run for the Mombasa governorship after completing what she hopes will be 10 years as Woman Representative.
Her expected challengers include Kadzandani Ward MCA Fatma Kushe, UDA politician Fatma Barayan, and politician Amina Abdalla, with more candidates expected to join the race next year.
Meanwhile, Ms. Masito, who has been conducting grassroots development tours across Kwale County, is also banking on her performance in office to secure a second term.
“I have extensively engaged with the people of Kwale. We have agreed with local leaders that politics in Kwale remains firmly rooted in ODM,” she said recently during a women’s fundraising event in Matuga.
Political analysts argue that the trend of Woman Representatives serving only one term has positive aspects and should be replicated across the country, saying the position was originally intended to provide women with political experience before they pursue other elective offices.
Political analyst Grace Oloo said the seat was created to help women gain political exposure, experience, networks, and resources to enable them to compete for other leadership positions.
“The purpose of the Woman Representative position is to give more women an opportunity to enter politics, gain experience, build influence, and prepare for other elective offices. After serving one term, leaders should allow other women the same opportunity so that more women can participate in leadership,” she said.
Ms. Oloo also urged women leaders to mentor and support one another in order to strengthen women’s participation in politics across the country.
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