The art of breaking male coalitions in university elections: Lucy Mbugua's playbook
Lucy Mbugua, the vice chairperson of Kaimosi Friends University Students' Association, at the university grounds on November 28, 2024.
What you need to know:
- Lucy Mbugua overcame gender bias and ethnic politics to become vice chairperson of Kaimosi Friends University Students' Association.
- Her victory required strategic coalition-building with male ethnic 'elders' and resilience against cultural resistance to women's leadership.
- Beyond her role in student leadership, Lucy advocates for women's rights, supports harassment victims on campus, and aspires to become Nakuru woman representative in the future.
It is easy to tell when Lucy Mbugua is in the room. When we attended a UN Women forum on leadership in Vihiga County in November last year, she stood out.
On several occasions, she asked questions and passionately contributed to the discussions, particularly wanting to know how women university students can be well prepared for leadership within and outside the university.
She is the vice chairperson of Kaimosi Friends University Students’ Association (Kafusa) at Kaimosi Friends University in Vihiga, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Commerce in Human Resource Management. Winning an elective seat in the student association is no mean feat, she later tells us.
It requires striking deals among coalitions formed along ethnic and clan lines. To win, there must be an agreement with the largest coalition, which often has the upper hand in determining the election outcome, she says. The art of engaging these coalitions was something she had not mastered the first time she unsuccessfully contested the vice chair seat in 2021, fresh from high school.
She was a first-year student in her first semester. “I was mocked, ‘You, small girl, what do you know about student leadership?’” recalls Lucy, who was raised in Nakuru.
Following her loss, she became the opposition leader, scrutinising the leadership of the elected student leaders. In the process, she learnt the shadow tactics of winning the seat. She discovered that each coalition is led by an all-male clique of ‘elders’ from different ethnicities and clans.
“So, you will find elders from Gema, Luhya, Luo, Kisii, or Kamba, and if the elders feel comfortable forming a coalition with another group, they engage and divide seats. That is where issues of clanism come in. Seats must be shared among different clans,” she elaborates.
“Unfortunately, most students are from the Western region, so forming a coalition with the Luhya community is the most viable option if you want to win an election.”
Winning tactic
Her victory in 2024 was due to her Gema community’s coalition with the Luhya. While this worked to her advantage, she also faced severe challenges, including online and offline violence.
One night, she says, her opponents attempted to break into her room, but, luckily, the caretaker scared them off. Online, manipulated photos of her in a suggestive manner were shared in students’ social media circles.
“That online bullying and trolling were the worst for me. I would have panic attacks anytime a notification popped up on my phone. I would cry to relieve the pressure because it was just too much,” she says, requesting we stop discussing the subject as it was retraumatising.
These challenges did not deter her. She credits her parents for her persistence and resilience. She says her parents always encouraged her and her three brothers to go for what they want in life. They have heeded their advice. Her eldest brother successfully vied for a student leadership position at Moi University while in his third year, while their lastborn was elected a leader in Karatina University last year when he was in his first year.
“I look up to my eldest brother, and he has taught me that women, too, can make a difference, not just within learning institutions but also in whatever space they occupy.”
She has certainly made an impact. Beyond working with the university to support women students who have been victims of harassment, some of whom impregnate them and refuse to take responsibility, Lucy is also involved in advocacy against the issues in the institution. Additionally, she is actively involved in community work with a local nongovernmental organisation promoting the rights of women and girls.
Deep-seated problem
But there lies a deep-seated problem in the election of women at the university, one that mirrors national politics. Interviews with students at the university reveals a culture of resistance to women's top leadership, where men still cling to the belief that women cannot be leaders.
Some students from the Maasai community stated that their culture discourages women from competing against men. However, others from the Luhya community were more liberal, noting that leadership is about character, not gender, which is why their community supported Lucy.
Peter Pusaren, a student, argues, “In our culture, a man is wiser than a woman, hence there is no way a woman can be president (chairperson of the students’ association). She can be a deputy.”
However, Evans Wesonga, another student, counters, “While coalitions determine who holds which positions, being a woman should not be a reason to be denied a position when you are qualified.”
Highly dedicated
Dr Dinah Were, the acting dean of students, describes Lucy as a highly dedicated and vocal student leader. “I have seen her involved in many programmes beyond the university, and she is doing well.”
Regarding elections, Dinah says the university is committed to promoting fair and inclusive student leadership. As such, they monitor elections to prevent the use of sexist language and gender-based violence during campaigns.
Dinah highlights the measures taken to ensure a safe and respectful environment for all students. “We take pride in maintaining a culture of inclusivity and respect,” she says.
“We ask students to report any cases of sexist language. If a candidate uses vulgar language, we summon and warn them. If they persist, they are disqualified.”
In selecting candidates for Kafusa positions, Dinah says they consider the two-thirds gender principle. The university follows a zebra policy where, if the president is a woman, the vice president must be a man, and vice versa, she highlights.
She states that the administration takes a firm stance against intimidation of candidates. “We strongly advise against intimidating opponents. If we notice any form of intimidation, we call in the candidate and ask them to tone down their approach,” she says.
However, to be elected, one must be a good academic performer without outstanding fees. Lucy is among the young women leaders that UN Women and its partners have identified for training, preparing them to occupy positions in political governance.
Having benefitted from grassroots training funded by the Embassy of Ireland, Lucy hopes to share her knowledge with many other women students aspiring for leadership.
Meanwhile, her ambition is to vie for Nakuru woman representative. “No one should tell any young woman that a seat is too big for them if they are confident of their abilities. Give them the opportunity and see them deliver,” she asserts.