ENGENDERING POLITICAL SPACE: WOMEN'S POLITICAL PARTICIPATION IN KANGEMA, MURANG' A DISTRICT, 1963-2002

This study examines women's political participation in Kangema, Murang'a district from 1963-2002.lt adopts an .integrative approach where patriarchy, an offshoot of radical feminism, and gender as tools of analysis are employed. Within these two approaches, it is argued that it is the society that determines what raies are to be played by bath men and women. The study begins by giving an in-depth analysis of colonial penetration in Kangema and the impact that this had on participation of women in politics of Kangema. It is demonstrated that the penetration of the colonialists and missionary activities in Kangèma had adverse effects on women political participation. With its patriarchal nature, colonialism had no place for women and this was later to be adopted by independent Kenya in 1963