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Critical mass and substantive representation : a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in Kenya
Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024.
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| Format: | Thesis |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613936038182912 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Sidha, Zedekia Opondo |
| author2 | Khan, Firoz |
| author_browse | Khan, Firoz Sidha, Zedekia Opondo |
| author_facet | Khan, Firoz Sidha, Zedekia Opondo |
| author_sort | Sidha, Zedekia Opondo |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131907 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:44:03.396Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/131907 Critical mass and substantive representation : a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in Kenya Sidha, Zedekia Opondo Khan, Firoz Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. School of Public Leadership. Women -- Political activity -- Kenya Women and democracy -- Kenya Women -- Decision making -- Kenya UCTD Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2024. ENGLISH SUMMARY: This thesis examines the relationship between critical mass and the substantive representation of women in the county assemblies of Kenya. ‘Critical mass’ is commonly used in political inclusion literature to refer to the proportion of individuals required to make and effect policy change. Critical mass in Kenya refers to the number of female legislators needed in the county assemblies to fulfil the two-thirds gender rule detailed in the Constitution (GoK, 2010). While critical mass has been achieved, it is unclear whether the increased number of female legislators has led to a corresponding increase in the number of gender-responsive and gender-affirmative laws – gendered laws - adopted in assemblies. The general objective of this study was to examine how nominated female members of county assemblies (NFMCAs) act on behalf of and in the best interests of women in their respective counties. Spanning 15 counties, the study determined the impact of gender on legislative attitudes; compared the legislative competence of elected and nominated members; and investigated how the nominated status of gender-quota policy beneficiaries influence their appointment to leadership positions in counties. Guided by political clientelism and feminist institutionalism theoretical frameworks, the study applied a mixed method approach, with a descriptive cross sectional study design, to collect data from 320 members of county assemblies. Data was collected via a questionnaire, focus group discussions and Hansard Reports. Interviews were used to collect data from key informants including county assembly speakers and committee leaders. The study established that elected female MCAs have more knowledge of gendered policy goals than their nominated counterparts. The study reveals that elected MCAs, irrespective of gender, are more legislatively competent than nominated MCAs. NFMCAs encounter challenges in accessing influential committee positions and leadership roles within county assemblies. The study recommends revamping capacity-building programs; promoting constituency engagement; and extending support mechanisms to nominated MCAs. Targeted legislative training programs; implementation of mentorship initiatives; a review of committee appointments; the promotion of inclusive leadership; and conducting public awareness campaigns will enhance the performance and legislative effectiveness of NFMCAs. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis ondersoek die verhouding tussen kritiese massa en die substantiewe verteenwoordiging van vroue in die distriksvergaderings van Kenia. 'Kritieke massa' word algemeen in politieke insluitingsliteratuur gebruik om te verwys na die proporsie individue wat nodig is om beleidsverandering te maak en te bewerkstellig.Kritieke massa in Kenia verwys na die aantal vroulike wetgewers wat in die provinsievergaderings nodig is om die tweederdes-geslagsreël soos uiteengesit in die Grondwet na te kom (GoK, 2010). Die algemene doel van hierdie studie was om te ondersoek hoe genomineerde vroulike lede van county assemblies (NFMCAs) optree namens en in die beste belang van vroue in hul onderskeie provinsies. Alhoewel kritiese massa bereik is, is dit onduidelik of die verhoogde aantal vroulike wetgewers gelei het tot 'n ooreenstemmende toename in die aantal geslagsreaktiewe en geslagsbevestigende wette – geslagswette – wat in gemeentes aanvaar is. Die studie wat oor 15 provinsies strek, het die impak van geslag op wetgewende houdings bepaal; die wetgewende bevoegdheid van verkose en genomineerde lede vergelyk; en ondersoek hoe die genomineerde status van begunstigdes van geslagskwotabeleid hul aanstelling in leiersposisies in provinsies beïnvloed. Gelei deur politieke klientelisme en feministiese institusionalisme teoretiese raamwerke, het die studie 'n gemengde metode-benadering, met 'n beskrywende deursnitstudie-ontwerp, toegepas om data van 320 lede van provinsievergaderings in te samel. Data is ingesamel via 'n vraelys, fokusgroepbesprekings en Hansard-verslae.Onderhoude is gebruik om data van sleutelinformante in te samel, insluitend sprekers van die provinsievergadering en komiteeleiers.Die studie het vasgestel dat verkose vroulike MCA's meer kennis van geslagtelike beleidsdoelwitte het as hul genomineerde eweknie. Die studie toon dat verkose MCA's, ongeag geslag, meer wetgewende bevoeg is as genomineerde MCA's.NFMCA's ondervind uitdagings om toegang tot invloedryke komiteeposisies en leiersrolle binne provinsievergaderings te verkry. Die studie beveel aan om kapasiteitsbouprogramme te versterk; die bevordering van kiesafdelingbetrokkenheid; en die uitbreiding van ondersteuningsmeganismes na genomineerde MCA's.Geteikende wetgewende opleidingsprogramme; implementering van mentorskap-inisiatiewe; 'n hersiening van komitee-aanstellings; die bevordering van inklusiewe leierskap; en die uitvoering van openbare bewusmakingsveldtogte sal die prestasie en wetgewende doeltreffendheid van NFMCA's verbeter Doctoral 2025-04-08T10:15:51Z 2025-04-08T10:15:51Z 2024-12 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131907 Stellenbosch University xvii, 185 pages : illustrations, maps, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Women -- Political activity -- Kenya Women and democracy -- Kenya Women -- Decision making -- Kenya UCTD Sidha, Zedekia Opondo Critical mass and substantive representation : a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in Kenya |
| title | Critical mass and substantive representation : a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in Kenya |
| title_full | Critical mass and substantive representation : a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in Kenya |
| title_fullStr | Critical mass and substantive representation : a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in Kenya |
| title_full_unstemmed | Critical mass and substantive representation : a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in Kenya |
| title_short | Critical mass and substantive representation : a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in Kenya |
| title_sort | critical mass and substantive representation a study of the legislative effectiveness of nominated female members of county assemblies in kenya |
| topic | Women -- Political activity -- Kenya Women and democracy -- Kenya Women -- Decision making -- Kenya UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/131907 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sidhazedekiaopondo criticalmassandsubstantiverepresentationastudyofthelegislativeeffectivenessofnominatedfemalemembersofcountyassembliesinkenya |