Older persons in Kisii County called for accessible registration and polling centres and for voting assistance that preserves privacy and dignity, at a Commission dialogue on Friday. 

The session, convened by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), closed its programme in the county and examined the participation of older members of society in electoral processes, the barriers they face and the measures required ahead of the 2027 General Election. 

Participants raised inadequate access to electoral information, limited assistance during voter registration, inaccessible registration and polling centres, long queues, mobility and health challenges, and insufficient consideration of the needs of older persons with disabilities. Concerns were raised about privacy and dignity where voters require assistance to cast their ballots, particularly voters with visual impairments.

EXCLUDED FROM DECISIONS

Participants said older persons are frequently excluded from public meetings, civic education forums, political party structures and other spaces where electoral decisions are made, and are in some cases treated as a reliable voting bloc rather than as citizens whose views shape party manifestos, nomination processes.

Older women face additional barriers arising from gender discrimination, harmful cultural practices, unequal access to property and economic resources, limited leadership opportunities, online harassment and violence. Participants said these intersecting inequalities discourage them from participating as voters, candidates, party officials, election observers and civic educators.

The dialogue called on electoral institutions and political parties to invite older persons to public forums, consult them in the development of party policies and provide clear, accessible and timely electoral information. Registration and polling centres should be physically accessible, adequately staffed and organised to give older voters support, privacy and dignity.

 Political parties were asked to establish fair and transparent nomination processes, eliminate discriminatory requirements and create opportunities for older persons, women, youth and persons with disabilities in party structures, campaign teams, decision-making committees and electoral positions.

ROLE OF ELDERS

 Participants said elders and religious leaders should use their influence to champion equality, peaceful participation and accountable leadership.

Older persons can help communities scrutinise candidates’ manifestos and track records, reject bribery and political manipulation, discourage the misuse of young people as agents of violence, and promote engagement across generations. 

The dialogue also set out the role of older persons in transferring values, knowledge and leadership experience to younger generations.

The session closed with the adoption of the older members’ instrument of the declaration by Special Interest Groups on inclusive electoral preparations and participation ahead of the 2027 General Election. Signatories commit to encourage and support youth, women, persons with disabilities and marginalised people to register as voters, and to use their standing to demand the full inclusion of those groups in political party governance and management. 

In the 2022 General Election women won one of the 56 non-reserved elective positions in Kisii County, and no woman was elected Senator or constituency Member of Parliament.