Clan discards tradition to endorse female candidate
Standard, Kenya - October 28, 2007

Mrs. Mumina Konso

A borana clan has gone ‘out of tradition’ to endorse the candidature of a woman parliamentary aspirant in Isiolo District.

Elders from the Dambenono clan ‘cleared’ Mrs Mumina Konso to vie for the Isiolo South Constituency parliamentary seat, whose immediate former MP was Mr Abdul Bahari Ali (Kanu).

The elders, drawn from all the locations of Isiolo South, met at the residence of Mr Haji Kadubo Billa and deliberated on the issue for five days.

It was a relief for Mrs Konso as the same elders had ‘barred’ her from running in 2002, saying Borana women were traditionally ‘not allowed’ to lead.

She defied the elders then and contested against Bahari on a Narc ticket, but lost.

Billa said it had dawned on the elders that women too could seek leadership positions and own or inherit property, contrary to their earlier beliefs.

"Lessons learnt from civic awareness campaigns from NGOs have led to the change in belief and attitude towards women," he said.

He added that the elders from Sericho location had also contributed to the change of attitude ...