Caroline Awuor, a grassroots political mobilizer from Embakasi Central in Nairobi, known as ‘Mama Yao,’ embodies the experiences of countless ordinary women involved in elections. These women mobilize votes for political leaders, often facing sexual and gender-based violence, discrimination, stigma, and even threats to their lives.
Yet, once the elections are over, they are frequently forgotten, while the leaders they supported enjoy the benefits of their efforts.
A documentary titled *The King Makers: Unseen Faces, Unheard Voices*, produced by Badili Africa, a civil society organization in Nairobi, highlights the struggles of Awuor and other women, showcasing how they continue to battle poverty despite their contr
A group of grassroots women features prominently in the documentary *The King Makers: Unseen Faces, Unheard Voices*, produced by Badili Africa, a civil society organization based in Nairobi. In the film, they share their experiences of often being forgotten after tirelessly campaigning for political leaders.
They express frustration over closed doors and a lack of communication, noting that the individuals they supported rarely return their calls despite the risks they faced during the campaign period.
The documentary, screened at Westgate on Friday evening, aims to highlight the significant yet overlooked contributions of grassroots women leaders.
Njeri Maina, the Kirinyaga Woman Representative, encouraged these women mobilizers to continue fighting for their voices to be heard. She advised that this effort should begin even before they enter into any agreements with politicians and political parties. “Negotiate your worth,” she urged.
Maina praised Badili Africa for its impactful work and appealed to any agency or organization capable of providing financial support to such initiatives, emphasizing the importance of implementing programs that engage grassroots women. “They really deserve it,” she said, underscoring the need for civic education to empower these women to demand what is rightfully theirs.
ibutions to political campaigns.
Awuor advocates for necessary changes to improve women’s political participation at the grassroots level, calling for politicians to recognize and respect women political mobilizers. “As kingmakers on the ground, we help to redefine political leadership and public representation in this country,” she stated.
She emphasized the need for change: “We want change where the politicians and leaders in power today don’t just come to us to benefit from our influence in the grassroots, but also advocate for equal participation and resources for us and all,” she added during a screening of the film at Westgate Mall Cinema auditorium.
Awuor stressed that acknowledging these women is crucial for achieving inclusive political participation in Kenya and for strengthening the role of women mobilizers in the country’s democratic processes.
Two women legislators, Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina and Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo, echoed her sentiments, urging political parties to reassess their internal programs to create platforms that address the roles of grassroots women mobilizers. They pointed out that after elections, many of these women are sidelined.
“It’s sad that after working so hard for political leaders, grassroots women mobilizers are forgotten almost immediately when the persons they campaigned for get into office,” lamented Maina.
