International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Vol. 3 No. 3; February 2013 62 Gender Mainstreaming and Women Empowerment in Political Party Processes in Kenya: Implementing the New Constitution in Earnest. 1 Awuor Ponge  Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR), Kenya & Institute of Education (IoE), University of London. Abstract Women have been grossly marginalized in organs of decision-making and governance structures. This study presents statistics and analyses qualitative data to explain the patterns. It explores the nature and extent of women’s political participation in Kenya and considers the role of education in increasing participation. The main objective is to determine the status of women within key political parties in Kenya. It is emerging that equality of access to and attainment of educational qualifications is necessary for more women to become agents of change. Increase of women presence in the key decision-making organs has not resulted into key influence within the party hierarchy and has not been seen to impact on party affairs and activities as this is still under the tight grip of men. It concludes that more gender equality in terms of participation in education has not resulted in more gender equality in the areas of political economy. Keywords: Gender, Mainstreaming, Women, Empowerment, Politics, Constitution, Kenya 1. Introduction This paper is based on the understanding that women ought to participate effectively in political party affairs. Women have been grossly marginalized in organs of decision-making and governance structures and the Constitution of Kenya has sought to bridge this gap by providing that women and men have the right to equal treatment, including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres (Kenya 2010b: 25). Parliament is mandated to enact legislation to promote the representation in Parliament of women, persons with disabilities, youth, ethnic and other minorities; and marginalized communities (Kenya 2010b: 67). For Kenya to realise its Vision 2030 and to actualise the implementation of the Constitution, gender equity must be top in the agenda. This paper is a bold attempt to give figures to otherwise vain talk without supporting evidence. It goes beyond female activists complaining that women are under-represented in political party structures, to get into the details of actually how the under-representation takes place. It presents statistics and analyses qualitative data that helps to explain the patterns. It seeks to establish whether there is a link between representation and achievement for the women. It explores the nature and extent of women‟s political participation in Kenya and considers the role of education in increasing participation. 1 This Paper was presented as part of the Coursework for the Master of Arts Degree course in Gender, Education and International Development at the Institute of Education of the University of London. It therefore has a natural bias as to the role of education in political party processes and empowerment of women. I am grateful to Prof. Jenny Parkes for her invaluable comments that have helped to refine this Paper to its present status.  Awuor Ponge is an Associate Research Fellow and the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Institute of Policy Analysis and Research (IPAR – Kenya). He is also an Associate at the Education Enhancement Centre. He graduated with a Master of Arts Degree in Development Studies from the Institute for Development Studies of the University of Nairobi. Presently, he is a Commonwealth Scholarship Fellow, pursuing a second Masters of Arts Degree in Education, Gender and International Development (MA – EGID) at the Institute of Education of the University of London. He is also an Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Development Studies, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). He has previously taught Development Studies at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).