More than 400 women in Nakuru County took to the streets on Friday, July 31, 2026, to protest against comments made by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua that they say unfairly target women leaders.
The demonstrators marched through Nakuru town, chanting slogans condemning Gachagua and carrying placards calling for respect and dignity for women in leadership roles. They argued that such attacks undermine efforts to promote gender equality in public service.
Demand for Respect and Fair Treatment
Ann Mwithaga, a resident of Nakuru, urged Gachagua to cease his criticisms of female politicians and allow elected women leaders to serve their constituents without intimidation.
“Gachagua, stop attacks on women leaders in Nakuru. Women deserve respect and should not be subjected to political intimidation or derogatory remarks because of the positions they hold,” Mwithaga stated, emphasizing that women attained their positions through democratic means and should be evaluated based on their performance.
The protesters called for political contests to focus on policies and leadership records rather than personal attacks, especially those based on gender.
Calls for Peaceful Politics and Gender Equality
Mary Atieno, another Nakuru resident, echoed the demand for respect towards women, urging political leaders to foster peaceful and respectful political discourse ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Respect us women. When you insult us, you insult your own mother. We want respect and peace,” Atieno said.
The group reminded that Kenya’s Constitution guarantees equality and non-discrimination, insisting women must be allowed to participate fully in politics without harassment or intimidation.
They pledged to continue opposing any form of political harassment targeting female leaders and stressed that leadership should be judged by ideas and service delivery rather than gender.
Gachagua’s Continued Political Remarks
Following the protests, Gachagua intensified his criticism of politicians from outside the Mt Kenya region. On Saturday, August 1, 2026, during a meeting with grassroots leaders in Murang’a, he warned Rift Valley politicians against interfering in Mt Kenya politics.
“They should remain in their backyard. Instead of coming to Mt Kenya to persuade our people, they should advise their kinsman, President William Ruto, on addressing Kenya’s challenges,” Gachagua said.
He added that Mt Kenya residents have already decided politically and are unlikely to be influenced by outsiders ahead of the upcoming elections.
Focus on Issue-Based Political Competition
The Nakuru women reiterated their call for political engagement to be centred on development policies and leadership qualifications rather than personal or gender-based attacks. They urged all political actors to maintain respectful public dialogue to ensure inclusive participation of women in leadership as Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election.
