The International Women's Day marked on 8th March celebrates the economic, political and social achievement of women in the past, present and future. 

Ahead of the day's celebration in Kenya, an Infotrak Harris Poll conducted to garner  insight on Kenyan women's concerns has revealed that approximately fifty-four percent of Kenyans are not aware of the day itself. As women empowerment remains key, it has emerged that fifty two percent of the respondents feel that women still do not have equal access to political participation in Kenya as compared to men.

"Women themselves need to go through the paradigm shift and feel that 'yes I can support this lady if she wants to run for president' because women can do it just as well as me can." said Angela Ambitho, the Managing Director, Infotrak. 

 

 

Majority of the women state that they would vote for a woman president, although only nine percent trust a female political leader more than a male leader. 

"Our society  has engrained us into thinking that there are certain people who would make better leaders than others." she added.

 

Approximately four out of one hundred of the respondents, of which sixty percent are women, feel that men pose one of the major obstacles to women empowerment. 

According to the poll, a majority of Kenyans feel that gender equality is still not practised to the desired levels in the country. Access to education, employment opportunities and better recognition of skills, experience and credentials are the key areas Kenyans want addressed to alleviate poverty.