Women increasingly fanning political violence through social media - PAA

Online violence perpetrated by women at the Coast has increased and many are ignorant of the dangers, Pamoja African Alliance party has said.

The party's women leaders said violence on social media platforms is a trigger to political violence and could plunge the country in chaos.

Treasurer Sureya Hersi called for mature politics devoid of insults.

“Most political skirmishes are fanned by abusive language on social media. It is unfortunate that women are also engaging in these insults. This is shameful because women should be preachers of peace,” he said.

Hersi spoke on Thursday during PAA's women engagement forum in Changamwe constituency, Mombasa county.

"People are enriching themselves through social media but women are using the platform to cause skirmishes," she said.

Social media has been used by politicians to advance their political agendas. The agendas are set and driven by hired bloggers who engage in political wars to please their masters.

Hersi said instead of engaging in social media banters, women should use the platforms to highlight their work and achievement.

“We, as women, need to change our political attitude. We need to view politics as a professional career and give it the respect it deserves,” she said.

PAA strategic officer Maimuna Mwidau said they are in the process of conducting civic education among women ahead of 2027.

She said women need to bridge the gender gap in the next election.

The party values the importance of gender and that they are in the process of putting up proper structures that will support gender equity in 2027.

“As we embark on the countrywide recruitment drive, I urge women to make use of the party opportunity and immerse themselves in active elective politics,” Mwidau said.

The party’s national deputy women leader Beatrice Achieng said PAA is open and anybody is at liberty to join them.

"We welcome Gen Z and they are at liberty to join the party to steer their political aspirations under our umbrella,” she said.

Achieng said contrary to popular belief, politics is not a dirty game.

The politicians engaging in politics are the dirty ones, she said, adding that it is possible to have clean politicians.

“We must do away with the notion that we must play dirty to succeed in politics," she said.

“It is possible to do politics without harming anyone. In fact that is the politics we need in Kenya."