The gender dimensions of electoral conflicts encompass the socially constructed gender relations in the society, which connote the socially constructed designation of women and men, their roles in the culture-specific context and the relationship between the two sexes.
Female aspirants face the challenge of choosing where to vie for election, as they have to convince the members of the communities of their marriage and their communities of birth that they are fit enough to lead. Overcoming the hurdle of family and societal endorsement to present oneself for nomination leads directly to another hurdle with strong gender dimensions: The party nominations. Political parties are an integral part of the institutional and legislative framework in the electoral process in Kenya, as there are no provisions for participation without the backing of a political party.