Questions about gender representation in student leadership have emerged at Kisii University after the announcement of the 2026 Kisii University Students Association (KUSA) Congress winners revealed an all-male list.
The 10 successful candidates, representing different schools and academic categories, are all men, with no woman featuring among those elected. The outcome has drawn attention to the representation of female students in campus leadership and the need to encourage more women to participate in student governance.
The winners are Earnest Isanda of the School of Education, Humanities and Social Sciences (SEDHURED), Joseph Monari Omenta of the School of Arts and Social Sciences (SASS), and Boaz Morara of the School of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environmental Management (SANRM). Others are Linox Omari Moracha of the School of Pure and Applied Sciences (SPAS), Ogembo Innocent of the School of Law, John Mutwiri of the School of Health Sciences (SHS), and Brian Okello of the School of Information Science and Technology (SIST).
Muga Fredrick won in the School of Business and Economics (SOBE), while Benard Omolo was elected to represent diploma students, and Wycliffe Getaro Nyanchoka emerged as the postgraduate representative.
The absence of women from the announced list raises questions about the factors influencing female students' participation and success in campus elections. Student leadership offers an important platform for representing learners' interests, engaging university management on welfare and academic concerns, and shaping policies that affect campus life, making the outcome significant for the wider student body.
The development also highlights the importance of creating an environment in which female students feel encouraged to seek elective positions and participate actively in university decision-making. However, the all-male outcome alone does not establish why no woman won a seat, and further information on the candidates, voting patterns and participation would be needed to determine the factors behind the results.
As the newly elected representatives prepare to take up their roles, attention will be on how they address students' concerns and ensure that the interests of the wider university community are represented. The development also provides an opportunity for discussions on inclusive leadership, equal participation and the role of universities in nurturing the next generation of leaders.
Kisii University, KUSA Congress, student leadership, gender representation, campus elections
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