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Issue Number 45 • April 2014

Issue Number 45 April 2014

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Seeking to change face of power through gender equality in post-2015 agenda …By Jane Godia

W

omen rights advocates and gender equality advocates scored in the just concluded Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) when their demands for a stand - alone gender equality goal in the post-2015 agenda was met.

The final outcome document of CSW 58 reaffirmed commitments to gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls as was stated in the Millennium Summit, 2005 World Summit, 2010 high level plenary meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and the 2013 Special Event on the MDGs. The outcome document noted the Commission reaffirming gender equal-

ity and empowerment of women and girls and the enjoyment of their human rights as well as eradication of poverty as essential to economic and social development including achievement of MDGs. The Commission recognized that almost 15 years after the MDGs were launched, no country has achieved gender equality for women and girls and that significant levels of inequality between men and women persist. The outcome document also recognizes the importance of MDGs in signaling gender equality and women’s empowerment as a global priority. Noting that progress has been slow with persistent gender disparities in some regions in secondary and tertiary education, the Commission noted that unless all dimensions of gender inequality are addressed, gender

Hon. Cecily Mabrire making her contributions during the side event. Picture by Jane Godia. inequality and empowerment of women and girls as well as realization of human rights of women and girls cannot be achieved.

It notes that empowerment of women is critical in achievement of MDGs and calls for elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and girls through development.

Measures The Commission calls for concrete long term measures to transform discriminatory social norms and gender stereotypes including those that limit

women’s well being in order to achieve gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.

Achieving a stand - alone goal on gender equality did not come on a silver platter in most African countries, Kenya included.

As the curtains came down the Commission on the Status of Women session 58, echoes of Gender Equality rang along the corridors and walls of the United Nations headquarters in New York. Meeting after meeting, side event after side event, all the delegates demanded that in the post-2015 agenda,

gender equality remains a key priority and it must remain a stand-alone goal as the weld moves forward.

Eventually the final outcome document of the CSW 58 had a stand - alone document on gender equality. The call was for the post-2015 agenda to address the challenges of gender inequality. It was noted that when things are fair, and women play their equal role in society, then the benefits are able to spread to all.

This is because when there is progress for women, there is progress for all.

Continues on page 7

50 years later, the battle still rages on against disease, illiteracy and poverty

EDITORIAL

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ime is running out for the Kenyan Government to meet the deadline of the eight United Nations Millennium Development Goals.

Whereas we understand how much the Governments’ hand is full, what with the runaway wage bill as Members of the County Assemblies (MCAs), teachers, doctors and lecturers still demand for better perks, but the ordinary men, women and children on the ground are also expected to enjoy the benefits of the MDG in their respective homes, offices and neighbourhoods.

Education Out of the eight MDGs, it has only faired well with number 2, to achieve universal primary education, thanks to the introduction of free primary education by retired President Mwai Kibaki, in 2003.

The Millennium project was commissioned by the UN SecretaryGeneral in 2002 to develop concrete action plan for the world to achieve

the MDGs and to reverse the grinding poverty, hunger and disease affecting billions of people.

Last year’s election pledge by President Uhuru Kenyatta, who succeeded Kibaki last year, to introduce free laptops for primary school children (which has been hit by controversy and a court injunction), is a step in the direction to achieving MDG2.

But one year to the deadline set by the UN, the Kenyan Government is far from meeting MDG number five, which is to improve maternal health.

This is one area of concern that has not been given as much financial support and limelight as is supposed to be.

This is a very sad admission by none other than the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Mr James Macharia, whom we have quoted widely in a separate interview on page three of this issue.

It is ironical that half a century after independence, disease, which is under the health docket, is still a major national challenge despite a declaration by the founding father of the

nation, Jomo Kenyatta, that his Government would eradicate diseases, illiteracy and poverty.

Some 50 years later, the battle rages on and with no sign of respite.

The introduction of free maternal healthcare last year by the Uhuru Kenyatta Government soon after taking over the reigns of power was a welcome move, but it is not enough.

Step The recent charity walk and media campaign by First Lady Margaret Kenyatta, which raised Shs100 million, is another step in the right direction. But still more is expected of the Government as far as policy, budget allocation and provision of drugs and personnel is concerned.

As we all know, where there is a will there is a way.

Babies are brought into this world in the labour ward, and grow in the real world out there where the cost of drugs, healthcare is unaffordable to most members of the public.

Official records show that Ma-

ternal Mortality Ratio had remained high at about 360 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2012. That is unacceptable.

A new study shows that of the 59 neonatal cases of maternal deaths studied, 31 infants survived delivery, and eight died in first week of life and another eight died in the next several weeks, leaving a total of only 15 surviving babies.

More women too died in health facilities due to late referrals and transport delays in getting the patients for treatment.

While the global maternal deaths were cut in half between 1990 and 2010, Kenya’s maternal mortality ration declined only slightly during the same period, going from 400 per 100,000 births in 1990 to 360 per 100,000 in 2010.

According to the Minister, every day about 5,500 Kenyan women are lost to maternal death every year, and a further 100,000 children aged below five, tragedies that affects families of the dead relatives.

This is why we are urging the Jubilee Government to burn the midnight oil and ensure that the MDG 5 is met before next year. With its good political will so far, we believe that achieving MDG 5 is not a mission impossible.

The other MDGs where the Government has done above average in meeting them are: extreme hunger and poverty (MDG 1); promoting gender equality and empower women (MDG 3); and reducing child mortality (MDG 4).

Partnership Others are to combat HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases (MDG 6); ensuring environmental sustainability (MDG 7) and developing a global partnership for development (MDG 8).

The long road to achieving the MDGs has been windy, rough and hectic; the ball is now in the court of the Government to deliver as it had pledged to do so 14 years ago.

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Issue Number 45 • April 2014

Sky is the limit for the only elected Woman MCA in Homa Bay County …By Odhiambo Orlale

F

or Rosemary Oluoch, politics was the last thing on her mind before the last general elections. But when she took a step of faith, she made history as the only woman to be elected as a member of the Homa Bay County Assembly.

The alumni of Kenya Polytechnic in Nairobi had always admired the manner in which her role models like Charity Ngilu and Millie OdhiamboMabona went about playing politics at the national, regional and village level.

Oluoch a 2001 Diploma graduate in Information Communication and Technology (ICT) from Kenya Polytechnic. She had a one year stint at Utalii College as an intern as she looked at her career options.

She later successfully applied for a job and relocated to Sotik in Bomet County, where she worked at a tea factory, Approket, for six years as a clerk before she was promoted to a supervisor.

Ngilu is the Cabinet secretary for Lands, Housing and Urban Development and is also a former MP for Kitui Central and former chairman of National Alliance Party of Kenya (Narc).

Millie Odhiambo-Mabona is the Mbita MP, who served earlier as a Nominated MP and a gender and children’s rights activist. She was the vicechairman of the justice and legal committee in the 10th Parliament.

Triumph It was thanks to the success of the two women luminaries in the political arena that Oluoch, who is the Kabuoch North Member of the County Assembly, in Ndhiwa constituency, decided to plunge into the murky world of poli-

tics to become the only woman elected in the whole county.

“I was the only woman in a crowded field of 16 aspirants vying for the ODM ticket, and I somewhat shocked and was proud to be the winner. During the General Elections, I trounced two men in the hotly contested race,” says the MCA. Nicknamed “Dwasi” (calf) by her supporters, she has since overcome the teething problems of being a new kid on the block and is a force to reckon with in the County Assembly where she was elected by her 39 male colleagues to be the deputy chief whip.

The chief whip is Johnson Kochola from Kochia ward while the Speaker is Samuel Ochilo, who works under Governor Cyprian Awiti.

Asked how she has managed to work in the male dominated Assembly, the soft-spoken deputy chief whip says it was initially tough because of the perceptions that politics is a man’s world, but later as she stood her ground together with the 18 nominated women MCAs, and her life and her work has been easier.

The 18 lucky women were picked by their respective political parties in line with the 2/3 gender rule after all the elective seats were filled by men.

Responsibility “Initially, my work was tough after we were elected because some men were not gender friendly, but as time went by they realised that what a man can do a woman can do even better. I am happy to have been given the responsibility as the Deputy Chief whip,” says Oluoch.

Her responsibilities, like her counterparts in the National Assembly and the Senate, is to ensure that there is a quorum in order for the legislative and

oversight business to be transacted.

Her mandate also includes ensuring that as many members as possible attend the sittings, especially when crucial Motions and Bills are to be debated and voted on. This includes debate and vote on matters of County importance such as the budget and legislative issues among others.

Forerunners Oluoch is however not the first woman leader in Southern Nyanza to pioneer in the world of politics. Phoebe Asiyo was the first woman to be elected as Karachuonyo MP in the 1970s and served her constituents for over a decade. She has since made another mark as the first woman member of the Luo Council of Elders, a group that is reserved for men only but is now becoming women friendly.

The Mbita MP was the only woman to be elected to the August House in the entire Nyanza region during the 2013 polls.

The other pioneer was Jane Were Anyango, in 1995, who made history as the first woman to be elected as Homa Bay County Council chairman, in a hotly contested race. By then she was also serving as councilor for South Kabuoch, in Ndhiwa constituency.

Asked what made her plunge into politics after working as a clerk and a supervisor at Approket Factory in Sotik, Bomet County, and the MCA says: “I was just interested in politics and I wanted to show the people that I was capable. I was also very happy that my husband gave me full support and cooperation.”

Earlier on, she had worked as a volunteer for the ODM presidential Ndhiwa campaign team thereby brushing shoulders with the who is who in the

Hon. Rosemary Oluoch was the only woman in a crowded field of 16 aspirants vying for the ODM ticket and she beat all the men hands down.

Picture by KW correspondent

party led by former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who lost to President Uhuru Kenyatta in the polls.

Achievements Looking back, the Deputy Chief whip says her work has not been very hard: “we are trying in the prevailing circumstances.”

She identifies some of their successes so far as the recent launch of a hatchery programme for poultry farmers; who are mostly women, while other pending ones are introduction of a massive solar power programme in the entire County.

On the gender side, the MCA says they were lobbying for more women to benefit from the devolved funds for women’s enterprise programmes and through the Constituency Development fund and others like UWEZO, among others.

The mother of four says she is busy making an impact now as an MCA and Deputy Chief Whip and has not had time to plan for the 2017 polls.

“I am still getting my bearing in the political arena and I am not ready to start saying which higher seat I will be seeking in the next elections,” Oluoch says with confidence.

A HIV positive mentor mother helps save children born with HIV positive mothers …By a correspondent

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tigma and discrimination, lack of comprehensive knowledge and information, low male involvement, and lack of support systems, are cited as barriers to the uptake of and adherence to Preventive of Mothers to Child HIV Transmission (PMTCT) services in Kenya.

These issues are addressed through a peer education and psychosocial support approach that integrates women with HIV into the health delivery team as mentor mothers.

Linked with Community Health workers, mentor mothers draw from their own experience as former PMTCT clients to inspire behaviour change in their peers.

Hope Mrs. Jackie Ogoti , a mother of two in her early 40s, is a symbol of hope among women living with HIV in Kisii County. She has fought Stigma, rejection, abuse and isolation from her friends, family and employer.

When she was first diagnosed with HIV Aids virus 18 years ago, her normal life took a different turn and

faced the stigma head on.

Brave, elegant and charming looks speak for her, as she roams around in a white orange lined apron, at Kisii Level 5 Hospital.

“I have a long history to narrate about my life, after finding my HIV status, I was left alone in a vacuum, no one really wanted to associate with me, but here I am, a living example to many women out there, who are struggling with the virus,” she says.

Barrier She reveals that in Kisii County, stigma is the barrier when it comes to those living with HIV virus. People with HIV are called names, they look like outcasts in the community, but they are living examples to the fight against the stigma.

“My work is to encourage women living with HIV virus in villages in Kisii County, talking to them and encouraging them to visit health facilities to know their status. It’s not an easy job as I don’t earn a lot of money from this but the passion drives me.

I don’t want anybody to suffer the way I suffered and also I want women living with HIV to give birth to HIV free babies, “she narrates.

According to Kenya’s Demo-

graphic and Health Survey (KDHS 2008 – 9), less than half (47 percent) of pregnant women make four or more antenatal visits. Sixty percent of urban women make four or more antenatal care visits, compared with less than half of rural women (44 percent).

At Kisii Level 5 Hospital, the story is different, through the mentor mother programme, where Ogoti works. Women who turn out to be HIV positive make frequent visits to the facility, they feel more connected and they can easily identify themselves with the mentor mothers.

“Information on HIV is of great value when a pregnant woman visits this clinic, at times it’s not easy as many of them fear what other will think and end up being stigmatized if they are confirmed to be HIV positive. I sometimes test myself in front of clients to prove to them my status, and more so that they can live a normal life if they accept their status and join the support systems available,” Ogoti says.

”She came to us as a saviour, I had lost three children to HIV related illness, I was alone with my husband, we were all sick and no one was our friend, death was starring at our faces,” Moraa narrates while sobbing.

Moraa was diagnosed with HIV last year when she visited Ogoti at the clinic for ante-natal visits at five months pregnancy.

She found Ogoti together with her collogues, they advised her to take a HIV test together with her husband.

Gratitude

Tests

In Kiong’anyo village, the same story of living positively with HIV is evident, Richard Onserio and Damaris Moraa, have a lot of gratitude towards Ogoti.

Since then Moraa has frequently been visiting the clinic with her eight month old baby for further tests, pending the child’s HIV status confirmation after he attains 18 months.

“We were all tested and we turned out to be positive....”

“We were all tested and we turned out to be HIV positive. This was a shock to us as we did not know what to do. We were enrolled on antiretroviral to help suppress the HIV virus,” he says.

“Truly Ogoti saved us, she counseled us, helped us visit Kisii Level 5, we were given medicine and also discovered that our 10 years old daughter is equally positive. We have another three years old baby who we delivered through PMTCT and is HIV negative, fine and healthy,” adds Onserio.

According to Dr. Enock Ondari, the Medical Superintendent, Kisii Level 5 Hospital the mentor mother programme was started in 2013, through the help of Care Kenya, a non – profit organization.

“We have managed to counsel close to 200 women who were HIV positive when they enrolled for PMTCT and they have been assisted to deliver healthy and HIV negative babies,” he adds.

Party He discloses that the hospital often organize a graduation party for the babies, to bring mother and their babies on board to celebrate the hard work and success of PMTCT through the mentor mother programme.

“This is one of the greatest interventions in PMTCT here; we can testify to this, the numbers of children born with HIV virus have drastically reduced,” Ogoti notes.

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

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It is official: Kenya unlikely to achieve MDG 4 and 5

…By Duncan Mboyah and Valerie Masavi

K

enya is unlikely to achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) five on improving the maternal health by the end of 2015 since maternal and child health has remained a major public health problem, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Health Mr. James Macharia revealed.

“Maternal Mortality Ratio has unfortunately remained high at about 360 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2012,” Macharia said at the launch of a study on maternal health problems in the country.

The study titled “A Price Too High To Bear” was conducted from 2011 to 2013 in three sub-counties in Siaya County in Western Kenya found that of the 59 neonatal cases of maternal deaths studied, 31 infants survived delivery, and eight died in first week of life and another eight died in the next several weeks, leaving a total of only 15 surviving babies.

Referals More women too died in health facilities due to late referrals and transport delays in getting the patients for treatment.

Macharia noted that the ratio is still far from the MDG targets of improving mother’s health by 147 even as the government has increased facility deliveries significantly since the introduction of free maternal healthcare.

While the global maternal deaths were cut in half between 1990 and 2010, Kenya’s maternal mortality ration declined only slightly during the same period, going from 400 per 100,000 births in 1990 to 360 per 100,000 in 2010.

He observes that Kenya’s progress in reducing maternal mortality has been slow but assured that efforts are being made to redouble the commitments.

“The government is committed to eliminating preventable maternal deaths by offering free maternal services at all public facilities and we now plan to procure medical equipment for 92 Level Five and Level Four hospitals at a cost of kshs. 34 billion to improve the level of

Cabinet Secretary for Health Mr. James Macharia with UK High Commissioner Dr. Christian Turner on his right and Ms. Martha Murdock, Family Care International Vice President for Regional Programmes during the launch at a Nairobi hotel. Picture by Valarie Musavi care provided in the public health facilities,” he added.

According to Macharia, every day, about 5,500 Kenyan women are lost to maternal death every year, and a further 100,000 children aged below five, tragedies that affects families of the dead relatives.

Expenses The lead researcher Dr. Frank Odhiambo, Branch Chief of the Health and Demographic Surveillance System of Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) and Centre for Disease Control (CDC), families experiencing a maternal death spent more on medical care and funeral expenses than all other yearly expenses on food, shelter and education.

“Many adult family members also had to take time off from work during the health crisis and funeral period, causing a further economic loss,” Dr. Odhiambo observed while releasing the study that involved 59 women and 86 households.

“Every two hours in Kenya a woman dies during pregnancy or child birth,

“said Dr. Odhiambo adding that the event of a mother’s death during pregnancy or child birth, the funeral expenses are greater than cost of care during pregnancy.

He noted that the funeral costs are also high compared to the family’s total annual expenditure on food, housing and all other household consumption.

The research has also shown that many families borrow money or sell household assets to pay for funeral expenses. Many family members had to take time off from work during the funeral period hence losing between sixteen and twenty six days of productive activity and deepening the family’s economic hardship.

Intervention Therefore mothers’ deaths are double tragedy to families because it causes both emotional and economical strain.

Dr. Odhiambo however revealed that many women lose their lives due to preventable causes during pregnancy or child birth which mostly reciprocates to neonatal deaths.

Mr. Marcel Rudasingwa, the United Nations Children and Education Fund (UNICEF) Kenya Country Representative, the UN agency and partners has a launched a five year infant mortality intervention in the high burden Counties in Kenya.

He said that the interventions are targeted at Homa Bay, Kisumu, Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Garissa, Turkana and the informal settlements in Nairobi and Mombasa regions that has high prevalence of malaria, tuberculosis and HIV Aids.

“We are currently training health care workers, developing intervention strategies and also strengthening health systems,” he added.

According to Reproductive Health Matters 2013, Kenya’s total expenditure on reproductive health increased from Kshs. 12.9 billion (US $170.4 million) in 2006 to Kshs. 17 billion (US $225.2 million) in 2010. The public sector contributed 34 percent of this cost in 2006 and 40 percent in 2010.

Out-of-pocket household payments contributed 38 percent of the amount

in 2006, which dropped to 29 percent in 2010. The private sector contributed only 3 percent in 2006 and 1 percent in 2010, while donors contributed 24 percent and 22 percent of the total in 2006 and 2010, respectively.

Thus, consumers bear a disproportionate share when it comes to reproductive health and family planning expenditures in Kenya.

As a percentage of total out-of-pocket expenditure on general health, households spent 14 percent on reproductive health services in 2010 as opposed to 10 percent in 2006. Out-of-pocket spending, especially by the poor, has important implications for policy initiatives aimed at reducing poverty and inequities in health access.

Maternal, newborn and child health accounts for less than five percent of the total health budget and this percentage has fluctuated over the years from 2.7 percent in 2010 to 4.7 percent in 2012.

The projections for 2014 indicate a lower percentage at 2.3 percent.

Deceased The study revealed that after the a mother’s death most of her tasks are taken over by the mother- in- law or the husband of the deceased of which mostly include reproductive duties.

Agricultural activities and harvest diminish due to loss of labour. School going children give up homework since they have to assist in household duties at times drop out of school due to lack of school fees now that there is less income because only one parent earns a living to maintain the household.

It’s evident that increase of effective health facilities will facilitate ending maternal deaths, trained birth attendants are equally important too.

The study challenges stakeholders to sensitize to visit hospitals when pregnant and for delivery and also educate them to sleep under mosquito nets, avoid heavy workload and have a balanced diet.

The study was done by Family Care International (FCI), the International Centre for Research on Woman (ICRW) and KEMRI – CDC Research and Public Health Collaboration.

USAID boosts free maternity services in Kenya

…By Carolyne Oyugi

T

he United States Agency for international Development (USAID) has donated maternal and child health commodities valued at Ksh129 million to health facilities in the country.

The commodities that have been distributed to 6,500 health facilities across Kenya includes delivery Kits, fetoscopes, newborn ambubags, and room heaters/warmers.

The donation was made by USAID Assistant Administrator for Global Health; Dr. Ariel Pablos- Méndez at Naivasha Sub County hospital.

Speaking during the handing over, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health Mr. James Macharia thanked the US government for the support.

Facility “This gesture is very timely because the free maternal mortality programme is on in every

public health facility. Since the introduction of the programme the number of deliveries in health facilities rose from 44 percent to 66 percent nationally and we expect the number to rise even further. These equipments will therefore ease the burden that the hospitals have and even introduce them where they did not exist,” he said.

He said that the government in support of free maternity shall increase employment of nurses because they are the people who mostly have regular and direct contact with patients and help in deliveries.

“The government is equipping the hospitals with new equipments to supplement the existing ones and introduce those that are necessary but do not exist in some facilities,” he added.

Dr Méndez further announced that USAID is committed to ending preventable child and maternal deaths in a generation.

He said that their goal is to bring the rate of mortality down and Kenya is one of their priorities.

According to a report that was recently launched by Save the Children in 2012, nearly30,000 babies died in Kenya during their first and only day of life or week still born where the heart stopped beating during labour.

Mortality The report dubbed Ending Newborn Deaths further indicated that despite some progress in reducing child mortality, Kenya remains off track to reach its Millennium Development Goals (MDG) 4 targets.

“USAID has identified 24 priority Countries including Kenya, in which it will provide financial assistance focusing primarily on supporting national governments to promote women’s informed choice in the use of family planning and ma-

Dr. Ariel Mendez presenting drugs and medical equipments to Cabinet Secretary for Health Mr. James Macharia at Naivasha district hospital. Picture by Caroline Oyugi ternity care, improve access to and utilization of quality maternal and newborn care services and to strengthen health systems,” he said.

He also commended the Kenyan government for the efforts

they are putting towards health care but advised that more needs to be done in order to achieve the MDG. “Globally the world is improving in the MDG’s. In the last 20 years the world has saved

over 100 million children by improving policies around healthcare and providing the necessary equipments.” he said adding that family planning should be encouraged to save mothers from early deaths.

Speaking to Kenyan Woman, Ms Elizabeth Chelimo, an expectant mother at the health facility thanked everyone who contributed in the donations because she was sure she would have a save third birth.

USAID supports these facilities through the integrated service delivery activity called APHI A plus Rift Valley. In 2013, USAID invested $40 million in family planning, maternal, newborn and child health, and nutrition services in Kenya.

These resources have been used to procure medical equipment, contraceptive commodities and vaccines, train health workers, enhance the quality, supervision and monitoring of health services and support community health programs.

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Issue Number 45 • April 2014

Ford Foundation opens new frontiers for East African grantees

…By Jane Godia

D

uring the recently concluded Commission on the Status of Women, organizations supported by Ford Foundation under the women’s rights projects were also supported to visit the state of New York as part of the delegation to the largest gathering after the United Nations General Assembly.

Other than attending meetings held by various governments and side events organized by civil society organizations, the grantees were given an opportunity to visits various organizations that are in partnership with the Ford Foundation either directly or indirectly.

Among the organization were International Women Health Coalition (IWHC), Centre for Constitutional Rights (CCR), Columbia University and Breakthrough in New York as well as the Global Women’s Initiative at the Wilson Centre in Washington DC.

Grantees Under the leadership of Monica Aleman Cunningham, the grantees were able to share experiences of what they are doing in Kenya and Uganda as well as get to understand what the organizations based in the United States are working on.

The East African grantees included African Woman and Child Features (AWCFS), Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW), Kimbilio Trust, Women Empowerment Link, National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC Kenya), Agency for Cooperation and Research in Development (Accord), Il’laramatak Community Concerns (ICC), Commission on the Administration of Justice and Akili Dada, all from Kenya as well as Forum for Women in Democracy (FOWODE) and Equal Opportunities Commission in Uganda.

Speaking in Washington DC, Rangita de Silva de Alwis, Director Global Women Initiative said by collaborating with the women leaders from East Africa, they were opening opportunities for so many partnerships from the conversations that took place.

“We need more women in leadership positions to even push for accountability as well as how to integrate the voices of women’s organizations into the global world,” de Alwis noted.

Her sentiments were echoed by Cunningham who noted that very few resources were being put by development partners into women’s programmes.

“There is discoordination of where the donor money should go in advancing women’s rights and that Ford Foundation is very committed to women’s rights and investing in women’s leadership,” Cunningham said.

According to Monde Munyanga, Programme Officer in charge of Africa Region at the Global Initiative for Women, African leaders must address and include women in all programmes.

“There remains a gap between policy framework and what is happening on the ground,” Munyanga noted. She added: “It is critical that we not only focus on the positive

but also on the negative so that nobody repeats the same mistakes gain.”

She reiterated that he present generation must make it easier for the coming generation because it is only then that they will achieve something.”

The Global Women Leadership Initiative, which is also supported by Ford Foundation, also operates as a centre for Women in Public Service which empowers the next generation of women around the word and mobilizes them on issues of critical importance in public service.

Speaking at Columbia University, Elsa Stamatopoulou, Director Indigenous People’s Rights Programme, and Adjunct Professor, Department of Anthropology noted that the push by civil society is what helped open doors to the United Nations. She reiterated that as women, “at every era there is something for us to attach ourselves to and articulate it”.

“Moving a social issue is what matters for women and as a movement, women must convince policy makers because political means governments are very nervous winces ideas are fermented at the CSW,” said Stamatopoulou.

She added: “What woke up the political systems to women’s issues is the women’s movement. Women’s voices are strong at the CSW which is the second largest meeting at the UN after the General Assembly.”

At the Centre for Constitutional Rights, Pam Spees noted that making a constitution living and breathing remains a key challenge.

Reiterating on women’s rights, Spees said women’s rights are human rights and not a slogan.

“Preparing people who are able to amplify and give voice enables creation of echo chambers,” she added.

These sentiments were echoed at Breakthrough, where Mallika Dutt, President and Founder reiterated that women want a world where human rights exist and work for everybody. Violence against women in private and public spaces remains a violation of human rights because it impacts everybody.

Violence “We need to move away from the victim and perpetrator norm, and bring men on the negotiation table to end violence against women,” she added.

Dutt noted that social change does not happen in nice little incubators hence the need for learning from each other and approach those who are better than us to help.

Dutt noted that women’s business must be made everybody’s business adding that breakthrough is needed in enhancing the lives of women and girls through education.

Speaking in New York, Francoise Girard, President of IWHC noted that as an organization they are in partnership with many organizations in Africa where they help build and strengthen partnerships.

IWHC supports feminist groups and young leaders to advocate for sexual and reproductive health and rights at the African Union, United Nations and the Economic

“What woke up the political systems to women’s issues is the women’s movement. Women’s voices are strong at the CSW which is the second largest meeting at the UN after the General Assembly.” Elsa Stamatopoulou

Ford grantees led by Monica Aleman Cunningham in a group photograph with pam Spees (seated right) at the Centre for Constitutional Rights in New York. Gathoni Kimondo, Executive Director Kimbilio Trust with Francoise Girard, President International Women Health Coalition, both organizations involved in the fighting violence against women. Pictures by Jane Godia Commission for Africa.

In Kenya, IWHC is currently supporting reproductive health services to increase access to legal, safe and comprehensive abortion services. The project aims to raise awareness among health providers of the Constitutionality of abortion and of government policies that promote provision of services.

Girard noted: “The Commission on the Status of Women is happening at a strategic moment when we want to ensure that gender

equality is a stand - alone goal.”

“We want to ensure that comprehensive sexuality education also features prominently,” she added.

Girard noted that IWHC engages with negotiators to lobby their own delegates. The IWHC also works in Washington DC to enable it hold the US government accountable on its foreign policy to ensure what they do is good and right, and that the government knows they are watching.

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

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No development without peace, security for women

…By Jane Godia in New York

V

iolence against women and peace and security for women and girls are topics that could not have been left out during discussions in the just concluded 58th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York at the United Nations headquarters.

The fact that violence against women and girls is detrimental to their future development also got captured in the final outcome document of the Commission.

The importance of eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls in public and private spaces, through multi-sectoral and coordinated approaches was noted. The Commission reiterated that to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls will need the exercising of due diligence, investigations, prosecutions and punishing of the perpetrators of violence against women and girls. It called for an end to impunity and provision of protection as well as universal access to comprehensive social, health and legal services for all victims and survivors, to ensure their full recovery and reintegration into society.

Prevention The Commission noted the importance for all women and girls to live free from violence and the need to address the structural and underlying causes of violence against women and girls through enhanced prevention measures, research and strengthened coordination and monitoring and evaluation.

The Commission called for the elimination of all harmful practices, including child, early and forced mar-

riage and female genital mutilation, through reviewing, adopting, enacting and enforcing laws and regulations that prohibit such practices, creating awareness around their harmful health consequences, and generating social support for the enforcement of these laws.

The Commission’s statement came out of the calls by various groups including government and civil society delegations that added the world’s second largest gathering after the United Nations General Assembly.

It was noted that violence against women and girls was everywhere.

Speaking at a session on Empowerment of Women and Girls: Beyond Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in the Post-2015 Agenda, Dr. Nicholas Alipui, Director of Programmes at UNICEF noted that Gender Based Violence (GBV) during conflict made it risky for women and girls to be at risk of it.

Equality According to Tamara Tutnejevic Gorman, Senior Policy Advisor at the World Vision, violence is preventing women from achieving equality.

There are many forms of violence that greatly affect women when they are girls.

Gorman added exposure and fear of violence when schools are not safe make girl’s drop out of school.

This was also noted by Patrick Stewark, in a video recorded by Breakthrough, a non-governmental organization engaged in the business of ending violence against women who noted that he grew up in a family with a violent father and would not like to see women being abused.

“When you live with violence in a confined space, you gauge the tem-

perature of when the strike is going to happen,” he added.

H said that violence is a choice a man makes and he is responsible for it. It is not a woman’s issue. It is everybody’s business and when it happens in the space we are in, we cannot feel secure.

Calling on women not always to be portrayed as victims of conflict, delegates noted that women are peace builders and they must be recognized as such. However, they noted that the MDGs had failed to address the issue of violence against women especially during conflict.

It was noted that war is a gendered activity after child birth and it is one of the activities segregated along gender lines.

Men in difficult circumstances, it was said, may resort to violence out of frustration and resort to misuse of fire arms.

“Women who experience violence may have few resources that could enable them escape,” said one delegate, reiterating that small arms are the main tools of conflict and the ones being used in human rights violations including domestic violence.

She added that armed conflict is affecting economic development.

Conflict is the main cause of food insecurity and it makes it difficult for vulnerable populations in need of

“Women who experience violence may have few resources that could enable them escape.”  A Delegate

A delegate from Tunisia addressing a side event on Women, Peace and Security in New York. Picture by Jane Godia food.

The meeting also noted that countries that have been in conflict are the ones that have performed poorly in relation to the MDGs. They called for need to ensure that in the post-2015 agenda there is no country that will be in conflict.

“Where there are high levels of conflict, schooling and lives are disrupted,” said one delegate.

Conflict The delegates noted that although there are seven more resolutions after United Nations Security Resolution 1325, the biggest gap in the MDGs is the absence of a goal on peace and security.

“Ninety per cent of homicide victims are men, and women bear the burden of caring for the victims,” noted a delegate from Nigeria.

They pointed out that the whole purpose of the UN is to determine to help succeeding generations in peaceful co-existence noting that the post2015 development agenda must include integration of women in peace and development, reiterating that violence is an impediment to progress.

According to Nahla Valji, Peace and Security advisor at UN Women peace and security in the post-2015 development agenda has been the missing piece.

“How can we leverage women, peace and security into the post-2015 goals through the UN security Resolution 1325?” she posed.

Valji noted that conflict drives development backwards. She reiterated that UN Women was trying to bring gender, women, peace and security as

a stand - alone goal in the post-2015 development agenda.

“Lack of peace and security affects women’s ability to participate in the development agenda,” said Valji.

Security Her sentiments were echoed by Hannah Wright, Gender, Peace and Security Advisor Saferworld who noted that conflict prevention is an area that has been neglected.

“Women cannot make strategic gains during times of conflict. If we want to make gains for women’s empowerment and gender equality in the post-2015 development agenda, we must talk about women, peace and security,” urged Wright.

It was also noted that sexual harassment against women and girls continue despite 117 countries having passed Sexual Offences Acts.

It was noted that violence was the main reason women were still missing in leadership and decision making positions.

“Elections violence has deterred women from participating in politics,” said Mary Clara Makunga, Malawi’s Minister for Gender and Women’s Affairs. She added: “Post-2015 development agenda provides an opportunity to sustain momentum and increase women’s leadership.”

“A stand alone goal in gender equality is a sure way to address inequalities that exist for women. Women must be part of the decision making processes that affect their lives,” making said.

She added that women’s participation in peace building is critical in the post-2015 agenda.

6

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

Let girls be children not brides …By Jane Godia in New York

Y

oung women and girls must not be forgotten in the post-2015 agenda. This is why the outcome document of the just concluded 58th session of the Commission on the Status of Women stresses on the need for gender equality and empowerment of women and girls.

Reiterating the need for girls to complete secondary and tertiary education, the Commission notes that this is the only way that gender equality will be a reality.

History The outcome document notes that achievement of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for women and girls have been held back due to the persistence of historical and structural unequal power relations between men and women, poverty, inequalities and disadvantages in access to resources and opportunities that limit women and girls capabilities and growing gaps in equality of opportunity, discriminatory laws, policies, social norms, attitudes, harmful customary and contemporary practices and gender stereotypes.

The Commission reiterated the need to address the issue of child, early and forced marriages, recognizing that these are harmful practices which have slowed down achievement of several MDGs for women and girls.

Addressing the session of Empowerment of Women and Girls: Beyond MDGs in the Post2015 Agenda, Dr. Nicholas Alipui, the Director of Programmes at UNICEF noted that early marriages and social exclusion are putting girls at a vulnerable position.

Barrier He said that child marriage is a widespread normative barrier that takes away childhood from girls. Giving startling statistics, Alipui noted that one in three girls aged between 20 and 24 are married as children. “Half a billion women married in the last 30 years were children at the time of marriage,” he added.

According to Alipui, the post-2015 agenda cannot move forward without ending child marriages and that, children cannot be brides.

Addressing a side event on Feminist Perspective to End Child Marriages, Wangeci Wachira,

…By Faith Muiruri

T

Jane Godia (AWC) with Winnie Lichuma (NGEC) at the Woodrow Wilson Centre in washington DC. Courtesy picture.

Executive Director Centre of Rights Education and Awareness noted that child marriages deny children a chance to be children.

This was also reiterated by Francoise Girard, President International Women Health Coalition when she noted that there are extreme power imbalances in child marriages because girls are being married to men much older than them.

“What can we do to put the girl at the centre as we talk about ending child marriages?” Girard posed. She explained: “The girl must be at the centre of interventions to help end child marriages.”

According to Girard, programmes must tackle sexuality and give girls information they need, reit-

“That children who get pregnant are a critical group of girls who remain vulnerable as they are still children but are not regarded as such simply because they got pregnant at 11, 12 or 13 years.” Francoise Girard

erating that programmes tackling only girls are not effective and it is important to look at the entire life cycle of women in all stages.

“In the post-2015 agenda it is important that under gender equality we track the proportion of girls who have been married before they attain 18 years,” Girard added.

“That children who get pregnant are a critical group of girls who remain vulnerable as they are still children but are not regarded as such simply because they got pregnant at 11, 12 or 13 years,” he added.

According to Margaret Greene, a consultant, marriage does not mean the end of investing in girls. It is important to have alternatives to real visions of interventions to child marriages and these include addressing culture, traditions and religion.

She added that child marriage is a cross point that connects so many socio-economic and political challenges which everybody must address.

Wachira noted the solution lies in the community and family coming together to save the girl child.

“Community and family needs to offer support for girls and young mothers to go back to school.

Everybody must play their role to end child marriages which is the common enemy at the centre,

she added.

This was reiterated by Girard who noted that gender norms and dynamics should be discussed in schools so both boys and girls understand how to constrain themselves.

Alipui stressed the need to put in place more money into social protection programmes to make children stay in the home environment without them having to move out of homes in search of firewood and water.

Alipui reiterated that the post-2015 agenda needs to have a distinct framework in protecting women and girls. There must be a ring-fenced protection.

“Adolescent girls must be targeted for protection and the post-2015 development agenda has the potential for us to be categorical in addressing issues of women and girls protection,” he said.

Addressing the side event of Empowering Girls in the Post-2015 agenda, Sharon Kotok, a consultant and former Foreign Affairs officer at US Department of State noted that no one should be left behind in the development agenda.

“When women and girls are denied equal opportunities, they are not the only ones left behind.

When women are denied education, we are all left behind,” Kotok said.

She added that empowerment of women and girls is critical in gender equality and that gender equality should not only be a stand - alone goal but it must be mainstreamed in all the other goals.

Poverty Noting that 230 million young women in the world live in extreme poverty, Prof Aurora Javate de Dios of the Philippines and ASEAN Commission on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Women and Children said many countries still have reservations in areas of women rights.

He noted that in framing post-2015 agenda, states need to commit and make better quality of equality.

Eventually it was agreed that it is important for girls to be inspired to pursue their careers and traverse through the terrain of culture and religion to realize their dreams.

Girls must be left to set their goals and be in a position to make decisions around their lives but this can only happen if we create an atmosphere where girls are able to negotiate and make informed decisions.

Bill undermines affirmative action seats

he quest for gender equality is far from being won. A debate sparked by the huge public wage bill has turned the heat on nominated slots which are currently dominated by women.

At the senate, women account for 90 percent of the nominees while at the National Assembly women represent 33 percent of nominated members and 81 percent of nominations at the County Assembly.

This, according to the Ainamoi MP Benjamin Lang’at is just adding to numbers while their input to legislation is insignificant.

The MP has sponsored a bill that seeks to change the law to make sure the nominated seats are abolished.

Langat, in a proposed Constitutional Amendment bill seeks to review six key clauses in the country’s supreme law namely Article 81(b), Article 97 (b), Article 98 (1b, 1c, 1d) and Article 177 (1) (b)) to among others wipe out all nominated slots in the Senate and County Assemblies ostensibly to slash the country’s wage bill by at least Ksh 31 billion every five years.

The lawmaker also seeks to abolish 47 women representatives positions to cure what he terms as duplication of roles

and wastage of public resources.

“When you look at the current structure of the Constitution, I think we are over represented at the expense of development,” says Lang’at.

He says that the Kenyan taxpayer has to bear the burden of sustaining one President, a Deputy President, 47 Governors, 47 Deputy Governors, 67 Senators, 349 members of the National Assembly, 1450 elected Members of the County Assembly, 770 nominated MCAs. “The more women we have here does not translate to any meaningful representation. All we need is effective and efficient representation so that we do not spend so much money in representation at the expense of development,” he explains during an interview.

Criticism The bill has evoked criticism with women representatives terming it as defeatist and geared towards upsetting other provisions in the Constitution on gender equity.

“It is worth noting that the two thirds gender rule is expected to be attained by the year August 2015, hence an attempt to change a bit of this Constitution will be a big setback to the women of this country and achievements gained so far through women leaders,” says Wanjiku Muhia, the

Nyandarua County MP. Already the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) has set up a technical committee to come up with a framework on how the two thirds gender rule is to be realised.

“The team has been tasked to review all proposals towards the realisation of the two thirds gender rule while at the same time collating views from experts and Kenyans,” explains NGEC chairperson Winnie Lichuma during the first Kenya Inspirational Women Award ceremony.

She says the framework emanates from Article 27 (8) which states that the State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.

The NGEC chairperson says that the framework can either take the form of an amendment of the Constitution, establishment of another legal framework, or reviewing other legislations around elections or can still be by policy.

She says that women constitute half of the population in the country and their inclusion and participation in the running of national and county affairs cannot be glossed over.

Lichuma points out that the nominated seats are a success because for the

first time, women are at the decision making table.

“Women must now develop better strategies that will get us the two thirds gender rule at the National Assembly, the senate and in all political, economic, social, public and private spheres,” she adds.

If implemented, the two thirds gender rule will increase women participation in politics and based on this principle at least 117 MPs will be female now that men are still dominant.

Currently, there are only 68 women in the National Assembly which is way below the two thirds gender threshold envisioned in the Constitution.

Costs However, in the argument that informs the amendment bill, Lang’at who also chairs the Parliamentary Finance Committee, tabulates that it costs about Ksh 2.5 million to maintain one nominated senator per month, figures that could rise to Ksh3 billion at the end of the term of the 11th Parliament.

The cost of maintaining the 47 women representatives according to his statistics will hit Ksh 7 billion by the end of the current Parliamentary term, the minimum wage bill for the 770 nominated members of the County assemblies is likely to reach Ksh 21 billion before Kenyans can return to the ballot in 2017,

figures that Lagat and some law makers insist was unsustainable.

“Many MPs are practical and I believe that the mood in the country including members of the pubic are prepared to take bold decisions to bring down the wage bill and cost of living,” he adds.

Kieni MP Mathenge Simon says that we are one year into the operationalization of the Constitution and we need to see whether it captures the aspirations of Kenyans.

The Ainamoi MP efforts to amend the Constitution could also be thwarted by the executive.

Deputy President William Ruto says the Constitution has sufficient latitude to overcome the challenges within its framework.

Langat’s bill could be tabled before the house in about a month but will have to be cleared by the speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi.

The proposal by Ainamoi MP will require a Constitutional referendum because the matters he has raised are contained in chapters that are protected in the Constitution. They include representation of the people and devolution and thus he has to convince at least two thirds of his colleagues in the National Assembly as well as majority of Kenyans registered voters for his proposal to sail through at the ballot.

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

7

Families to blame for slow change in Sexual Gender-Based Violence

…By Duncan Mboyah and Valerie Musavi

C

ommunity and relatives of the victims of Sexual Gender Based Violence (SGBV) are to blame for the increase of cases despite efforts to eradicate it.

According to Dr Ruth Aura, chairperson of FIDA Kenya, majority of perpetrators of SGBV are people close to the victims and attempts to have them face the full force of the law is often thwarted by relatives who ask for out of court settlement.

Addressing a workshop at the University Of Nairobi’s School Of Law on state responsibility for investigation of sexual violence cases, as is the case in the 160 girl’s decision, Dr Aura noted that the police were slow and often listen to the communities’ Council of Elders whose aim at times is to cover up the violence meted on innocent people.

Myths “In many African settings SGBV seems justifiable because of the myths surrounding it since in some societies it is believed that by defiling a virgin, an HIV positive person gets instant cure because of the girl’s purity, hence denying girls’ security in a place they call home,” the FIDA chair says.

She lamented that it was unfortunate that instead of struggling to bring up good generation, the elders, who are the custodians of community’s interests, were at times the ones who encouraged the act.

The chairperson described as “a shame” that the Kenyan Government had ratified many international instruments but failed to implement them to the letter despite having a functioning police and judiciary.

“Kenya has a legal framework and the Con-

stitution that guarantees personal security and freedom from torture, but some citizens still do not get justice,” she adds.

The Fida chairperson revealed that in a survey they conducted in 2010 in Migori, Kisumu, Mombasa, Nairobi and Naivasha towns, they discovered that the highest number of SGBV cases in the country was found in Naivasha town.

She called for special courts to deal with SGBV cases saying regular courts were too slow and the speed of investigations by the police was wanting.

According to Deputy Chief Justice, Kalpana Rawal, the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) was an international human rights document that protects the rights of women, which Kenya adopted in 1984, and every woman in Kenya therefore, must enjoy a life free from sexual abuse.

Rawal notes that poor investigations by the police violate the principle of democracy that every citizen was entitled to.

She says that it is important that young girls be protected as they were the future role models for the country.

“Just like any other defilement case, the petitioners deserve justice most especially because they are human and the law must provide equal protection to all citizens regardless of their gender,” she adds.

She maintains that that all judicial mechanisms were ready to settle sexual gender based violence because the Constitution was transformative through the Bill of rights.

Lady Justice Rawal stated that sexual abuse was the worst violation because it stigmatizes and kills the mind and soul of the victims.

Rawal points out that the 160 girls have make history especially in the justice system challenges

stakeholders to come on board in helping the judiciary in fulfilling its duty to the citizens.

According to the lawyer for the 11 girls out of the 160 who were defiled between 2008 – 2012.

Muthomi Thiankolu, the eleven petitioners had all reported to various police stations and in each case, the police failed to conduct professional investigations.

“The police failure amounted to infringing the petitioners’ fundamental rights and freedom forcing the petitioners to suffer horrible harm,” Thiankolu says.

Investigations He adds that although the perpetrators were responsible for the acts, the State could not escape blame as it failed to conduct professional investigations to apprehend the suspects.

“The respondent failure to conduct prompt, effective, proper and professional investigations into the eleven petitioners complains violates their fundamental rights and freedom,” the lawyer says.

The University of Nairobi Vice Chancellor Prof George Macgoha challenged all institutions to take up the role of sensitizing the population on the effects of SGBV adding that the vice was a critical issue because victims were mostly minors who deserve better lives and support from the elderly and the society at large.

The VC hailed the ruling on the eleven petitioners adding that it adequately showed how they practiced their rights as citizens since it is the duty of the state to provide security and justice to all irrespective of their gender.

According to Dr Fiona Sampson, the Executive Director, Equity Effect, says the victims of SGBV subconsciously seek justice even though its access may be limited.

Sampson recalled that during the recent cel-

ebrations to mark the international day for the girl child in Meru town, victims of sexual violence demanded for their rights during a peaceful procession.

She observes that sexual violation ruins the future of victims because many girls drop out of school due to pregnancies and others get a shamed while others try to commit “Kenya can emulate Rwanda by setting up one-stop shop with a recovery room with counselors, a police station, a health facility and judicial services to SGBV victims,” says the chair of National Gender and Equality Commission Winfred Lichuma.

She says that it is unfortunate that the vice continues but people avoid speaking against it in public hence the increasing number of recorded cases.

“The vice depicts how our morals have gone down to the dogs yet we live in an era when changes have gone high-tech unlike the past century,” she adds.

Lichuma called on legal experts to help simplify the international framework now that sexual violence had been listed as one of the crimes against humanity.

She revealed that NGEC was working on a framework for monitoring SGBV that would be available for use in the country.

On her part, Patricia Nyaundi, the secretary, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, called for awareness creation amongst various stakeholders and delinking of politics in its implementation as the only way to eradicate SGBV. Nyaundi says that effective change in response to SGBV begins with prevention, adding that society should change its thinking about sexual abuse, and do away with myths about SGBV.

Seeking to change face of power through gender equality in post-2015 agenda Continues from page 1

Speaking at the Kenya delegation briefing, Anne Waiguru, Minister for Devolution and Planning noted that Kenyans, who already have the affirmative action principle on gender equality entrenched in the Constitution, must start having a conversation around the two thirds principle. “We need to have a conversation around the issue of two thirds and strategize how the affirmative action gains will be protected,” Waiguru said.

She reiterated the same when she spoke at the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association side event noting that there is need to ensure that we mainstream gender in all goals in the post 2015 agenda.

“Women need to position themselves in places where they can make decisions,” said Waiguru. She added: “Women need to give women their rightful place so they are able to make decisions beyond gender.”

Positions Kenya has seen a slight improvement in the numbers of women in elective and appointive positions. This improvement is as a result of the struggle by the women who were there before.

These sentiments were echoed by the African Union Ministers for Gender and Women’s Affairs in a speech read on their behalf by Mary Clara Makunga of Malawi who noted: “Gender should be mainstreamed across all five pillars in post-2015.”

She reiterated that national gender machineries should be adequately funded and staffed.

Speaking at a side event, Voices of African Women and Girls in Post-2015 Development Agenda hosted by ACCORD and World YWCA, Makunga said: “African Union ministers for

Ms. Anne Waiguru, Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning addressing Kenyan delegates to the CSW58 at the Kenya Mission in the United Nations headquarters in New York. Picture by Jane Godia.

Gender and Women Affairs are calling for a stand - alone goal on gender equality.”

It was reiterated at the Commission on the Status of Women, CSW 58 that outcomes of the meeting must be domesticated and implemented with adequate resources.

This was echoed by Patricia Mwaka Mphanza of World YWCA, Zambia, who noted the need to come up with transformative strategies of what Africa has not done well.

Reiterating the need for a stand alone gender equality goal in the post2015 agenda, Mphanza noted the importance of putting women’s rights at the centre of sustainable development agenda.

This was also noted by Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Executive Director of UN Women when she said that voices of women and girls are most important in the post-2015 agenda.

“In the evaluation of MDGs, there is overwhelming evidence of the role

of women in addressing social issues,” Mlambo-Ngcuka noted.

Babatunde Osotimehim, Executive Director of UNFPA said that attention must be paid to the voices of women and children to make adequate provisions in the post-2015 agenda.

“The most important intervention in the post-2015 is the education of the girl-child,” he noted.

Nicole Amelene, chairperson of UN Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) stressed the need to have women in decision making processes.

She said the challenge remained on how to address the empowerment of women and girls.

Decision According to Amelene, women have to decide for themselves and for their countries.

Noting that women’s rights could be the DNA for development, Amelene reiterated the need for women to work

with civil society organizations towards empowerment.

“CEDAW is the roadmap to gender equality. All public bodies and national parliaments have a role to implement the international convention and create special committees to keep vigilance on international conventions,” Amelene said.

She added: “There is need for commitment to end the discussion on women’s equality.”

According to Wangeci Wachira, Executive Director Centre for Rights Education and Awareness, women must be part of decision making.

“If we do not have women in decision making positions, then all decisions will be made by men and this means that policies will not be gender sensitive.”

Wachira notes: “Where we have women making decisions, they are able to articulate their issues such as access to justice, water and health among other socio-economic rights.”

Giving the case of Kenya, Wachira

noted that in Kenya, it was possible to pass the Sexual Offences Act and AntiFemale Genital Mutilation Act because women were there.

This was reiterated by Kgothatso Mokoena of South Africa, who said that young women are also asking for their space in the post-2015 agenda.

“It is time to mobilize young people towards influencing post-2015 agenda which must capture their aspirations and assets,” said Mokoena.

Priority Funding for gender equality remains a key priority for the goals of post-2015 to be achieved.

Waiguru noted that governments must set aside 30 per cent of their budgets specifically for women’s issues. She reiterated that development partners must also set aside 30 per cent of this funding for women’s issues.

Women participation in leadership and decision making processes is critical for gender equality to be effective.

8

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

Diabetes eating on Kenya children silently

…By Patrick Mutisya

R

ising cases of Diabetes among children are causing sleepless nights to their parents and guardians.

The silent killer disease was common among adults, but the trend has switched to the children of late.

The disease progressively drains the strength and resources of an individual leaving them unproductive and poor.

According to the Ministry of Health, the prevalence rate of the known cases for diabetes in Kenya is estimated to be 3.3 percent, though these statistics are projected to rise up to 4.5 percent by 2025.

The Ministry adds that at least 1.8 million young people in the country are suffering from diabetes and the figure is likely to increase if preventive measures are not put in place urgently.

Rate Studies conducted in Kenya show that the prevalence rate for the complication in urban areas is six times higher than in rural areas, with 14.7 and 2.7 percent respectively.

Dr. Lucy Mungai, a Pediatric Endocrinologist, concurs with those findings saying Kenya has 3.5 million people with diabetes, but wonders where the diabetic children go to.

“If you look at the risk, 10 percent of the 3.5 million people are supposed to be type one diabetic, which is 350,000. Of the 350,000, 90 percent are supposed to be children, which are 315,000 with diabetes but in this country they don’t exist,” wonders Dr. Mungai She adds that these children plus another unavailable 1,500 with type two diabetes end up dying of different diseases for failure to be diagnosed from the correct ailment they suffer from.

This is led by the condition that the symptoms that these sick children report at hospitals are easily associated with other illnesses.

Diabetes type 2 is said by experts to be hereditary and though the exact causes is not precisely known, it is linked to both genetics and life style.

In nearly all cases, Diabetes Type 2 is a direct result of lifestyle choices combined with genetic predisposition.

Insulin Experts say that the most common types of diabetes are type 1 that results from the body’s failure to produce insulin, and presently requires the person to inject insulin, type 2 that results from insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes resulting in an absolute insulin deficiency and gestational that is common with pregnant women, who have never had diabetes before, have a high blood glucose level during pregnancy The medics say that diabetes is a condition where there is too much sugar (glucose) in the blood either because the body does not produce enough insulin or the cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.

Diabetes type 2 is overwhelmingly the most prevalent form of diabetes, making up close to 90 percent of all cases. The symptoms for diabetes are roughly the same, with excess thirst,

Dr. Lucy Muingai, a paediatrician Endocrinologist attending to a diabetic client at the clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Of the 350,000 cases of diabetes in the country, 90 percent are children. Picture by PPatrick Mutisya constant urination, and nagging feelings of hunger being the primary culprits. Unfortunately, until these symptoms become greatly blown up, many people will not even know they’ve developed diabetes Type 2.

Failure to find the expected numbers of children with diabetes conditions, Dr. Mungai in collaboration with stake holders came up with a pediatric clinic within Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) to try and help these dying children.

Presently the clinic has enrolled 185 children with diabetes aged between six weeks and 18 years. The children are administered on free injectable insulin and also given free glucometers to test themselves while at home, all of which is being provided by donors.

“The only thing they are now buying is the strips and the syringes and they are going to get the free insulin until they attain the age of 23 and get a job,” Dr Mungai says.

She notes that in case they fail to acquire a job by that age, they continue to benefit until they find one in order to be able to buy insulin for

themselves.

The cost of treatment for diabetes depends on the kind of insulin the patient is using and it is a life time expenditure.

Under that programme, the nurses have devoted themselves to help the children with diabetes by even chipping in financial support to ensure that the blood sugar doesn’t overcome them.

Diabetes is a life time condition and the cost for maintaining it is growing. The average cost to care for a diabetic child costs not less than Kshs 20,000 a month for the insulin medication alone.

Expenses “When we do the cost of bus fare for one child coming here every month, not counting the cost the parents have to incur in buying food because the sick child has to eat a lot of greens daily, for the ones we follow in here at KNH, itis between Kshs. 6,000 to 10,000 per month,” Dr. Mungai adds.

Majority of the patients at the hospital come from poor families where-

“The only thing they are now buying is the strips and the syringes and they are going to get the free insulin until they attain the age of 23 and get a job.” Dr. Lucy Mungai

by they earn a monthly salary of Kshs.

3,000 – 5,000 a month and many are conquered by the burden of medication cost.

These patients are also required to buy glucose strips, for checking blood sugar monthly whereby the least cost for one is Kshs. 3,400 per month excluding the syringes and pens.

On her part, Jane Kosgei is among the mothers whose children are under medication at the KNH clinic for diabetes. Her four-year-old boy developed diabetes while at the age of two and half years.

Kosgei comes from a family of hereditary diabetes, where the grand mother to her husband and her two siblings, brother and sister have diabetes.

Her child was admitted at the KNH in severe condition for two weeks after being transferred from a private clinic where he was diagnosed with very high levels of blood sugar and severe stomach ache.

Kosgei admits that the biggest challenge in dealing with a diabetes condition is its expenditure.

“It costs us Kshs. 15, 000 a month.

A packet of 50 stripes, the cheapest goes for Kshs. 1,700, insulin which we use two types; one for slow acting costing Kshs. 700 and the other first acting which goes for Kshs. 600 double a month which is Kshs.2, 600,” On her side, Eunice Njoki,

14-years-old daughter from Kiserian, in the outskirts of Nairobi was overcome by her diabetes condition after failing to check her blood levels for nearly six months.

Overcome During that period, the Standard Eight pupil kept taking insulin without checking her blood levels thrice a day for lack of money to buy stripes.

Njoki’s mother is a vegetable vendor while the father is a mason, and due to the poverty level in their family, they were unable to afford Kshs. 100 for Njoki transport to attend clinic.

Njoki’s challenges led her to hide from home and trek to KNH to see the doctor for help. Through the help of partners KNH is trying to spread the project to other clinics in order to reduce the high growing number of dying children with diabetes.

The government should increase its funding to health and also aim at taking care of patients with chronic diseases like diabetes so that the burden of treatment isn’t all left to the patient.

It should also create policies to ensure that patients with such illnesses are only allowed to pay 20 percent of the total treatment cost while the rest is taken care of by the government. This will help such patients live long.

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

9

One woman’s determination to conserve Ewaso Nyiro River at all costs …By Mary Mwendwa

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andits, Hyenas, scotching heat and the rough bushy terrain, did not deter her from participating in a 176 km trek, aimed at sensitising communities on the importance of Conserving Ewaso Nyiro River.

Nothing locked out Amina Raka who is in her early 30s, her three month old baby clutched on her back, from taking part in a historic trek to raise awareness about the Conservation of Ewaso Nyiro River.

This was during the camel caravan for climate campaign, a walk that took place in Isiolo County, in Northern Kenya, recently.

Amina is one assiduous woman among the many women who suffer the impact of climate change that is blamed for the receding water levels of Ewaso Nyiro River.

All the way from Malkadaka ward, Garbatula District, her life time journey begun.

Appearing in a dark, tall and charming, dressed in a flowered head scuff, neatly wrapped on the head, long free dress with black and purple flowers, a scarf coiled on the neck, Amina smiles and stretches her hand saying: “Asalaam Alekum” a common Muslim greeting used among the community.

Activity There is a beehive of activities going on here, team members resting at their second last point at Lalesoro, Samburu County, which borders Isiolo County. Men are busy slaughtering a goat, some lighting fire and others busy washing dishes. A few tents are erected on the dry dusty ground with shrubs full of thorns.

Amina proceeds to show me one of her toes without a nail: “My nail got broken while walking with this caravan, it was a tough journey, but a worthy course, I wanted to demonstrate the seriousness of conserving Ewaso Nyiro River. The scotching sun was a challenge to me,” she admits.

“It took courage, resilience and patience to

participate in this caravan walk, but I thank God I have managed without any problems. We were worried about wild animals and bandits, despite the police reservists who were among the team for security purposes. This reTop: The caravan that was organised in conservation of Ewaso Nyiro River. Below: Ms. Amina addressing gion is known for bandit attacks even the people who turned up for the walk. Pictures by Mary Mwendwa where we are now is another hot spot where several vehicles including an ambulance that was ferrying a patient take the initiative to save this river from further en“The planned resort city will be a loss to the have been attacked in the recent past,” croachment,” Golicha says.

Ewaso River ecosystem and result in more conflicts she reveals.

The walk, one of its kind in Isiolo, comprised from the downstream users. I challenge people who She observes that women suffer most, when a disaster such as drought and famine hits the region. of 10 hired camels from Merti to Archers Post, had are planning it to consider environmental impact over 50 people participating from the upper stream assessments to save the river from further degradaFood and lower stream and they later converged at Ar- tion,” he adds.

According to Leonard Akwany, programme “Our men move with livestock and we are left chers Post town, 35 km away from Isiolo town.

Ewaso Nyiro River is important because it is associate, Wetlands International Kenya Office, behind with children and ugly jaws of death staring at us. It is very traumatising to see your children the only source of livelihood for pastoralists living Ewaso Nyiro River is a closed basin hence very fragile in nature. get malnourished because you have no food, every- in Isiolo County.

The river is drying at an alarming rate since “We encourage communities to green their thing has dried up even the only resource –Ewaso people from upper stream divert the water for irri- ecosystems by planting indigenous trees like acaRiver; is threatened,” she says. cia and also practice Ecosystem smart livelihood In 2011, the area experienced two successive gation leaving the lower region with little water.

Abdulahi Abduba, of Friends of Wildlife from which come with less threats to the river,” the offailed rainy seasons in the space of 12 months that led to the driest year since 1995 Kenya, Somalia, Kina, notes that the river has traces of pesticides ficial says. which are released in the water by farmers up Ethiopia, Djibouti and Uganda.

Wetland The drought decimated herds and had a dev- stream.

Several communities benefit from this river, Akwany is opposed to people farming along astating impact on pastoralist communities that the period that the river dried for the first time. In Samburu, Rendile, Borana, Turkana, and Maasai the riparian land adding that the activity destroys the river and recommends that people read the wetMerti, for example, people lost almost all their live- among others. lands Atlas, as an educational tool to help them unstock. Many recount their loses and are ready to do Livelihood derstand their wetlands well and know where they anything for the sake of ensuring that nothing of The changing harsh weather pattern has led to are located. that magnitude occurs again.

At Archers post, song and dance rent the air “We are so scared to keep lots of livestock these persistent droughts which leave the people without days, I am doing small scale farming and keeping a any source of livelihood given that the community as Samburu women, colourfuly dressed in beaded few livestock for now, the last drought swept my 50 largely depends on pastoralism and cannot afford to bracelets and necklaces attract crowds that had gathered to receive the group that had trekked for see the river die. cattle and this is very unfair,” she says.

Yussuf Mohammed, a member of Sericho over a long distance spreading message of conservHalima Golicha, a mother of seven, says that the camel caravan walk was organised to help raise Youth United in Garbatula, says that the water levels ing the river.

“The river is our only source of livelihood, we awareness about the urgent need to use Ewaso water were very high in the past 10 years.

He objects to the proposed dam project at Old- need to conserve it is a fragile ecosystem that needed in a sustainable way.

“We know that climate has changed as we ex- inyiro saying that it will take a lot of water and hence urgent intervention by all of us,” says Godana Doyo, Isiolo Governor. perience frequent droughts, and it is upon us to starve people on the lower basin.

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Issue Number 45 • April 2014

Woman ventures into selling dogs as income generating activity …By Magdalene Wanja

W

hen the going gets tough, Charity Muriuki is among the tough who believe in getting on the move.

Muriuki has ventured into uncharted waters by starting a dog-selling business in Nakuru County.

She says she ventured into that business by accident after selling an adult dog at a whopping Kshs120, 000 from the puppies she had kept for only 12 months.

In a recent interview, she reveals that she had always had a passion for pets and her favourite had always been a dog.

“But I never imagined I could actually turn this into a successful business venture,” Muriuki says with pride.

Business Indeed, for many years, Africans were known to be engaged in familiar businesses while some, such as dog selling were unthinkable as acquisition of pets was communally shared free of charge.

But with the recent rise in insecurity and the adoption of better quality dogs from foreign countries, people like Muriuki, have started venturing into the business of selling dogs and cats.

The 50-year-old mother of two was given early retirement by her employer where she worked as a clerk. She was caught off guard as she was many years from retirement age.

“Being a family person, I had to work hard to sustain my family. I had to look for all available opportunities but selling dogs was not on my, but by accident, it has come to be my main business,” she reveals.

Many of her friends, especially women, did not take her passion seriously at first as it has always been considered normal for men to keep dogs but not vice versa.

Now in her fourth year of doing business, Muriuki has cleared all the doubts and is fully engaged in her business.

She started with one female dog that she had bought for her family’s security at home.

Seven months later, it gave birth to ten puppies

which she sold after two months at a price of Kshs. 30,000 each leaving one which she later sold at Kshs120, 000.

The profit she made encouraged her and through the excitement she bought two more dogs for commercial purposes which later gave birth to 10 puppies.

“The German shepherd Long Coat breed of dogs that I keep are easy to manage and relate with and also quick to learn and therefore easy to get instructions after a short period of training,” she says.

She later hired a trainer who trained the dogs on how to relate with adults, children and strangers and adhere to specific instructions and names given to them before they are disposed off to her clients.

Muriuki keeps the dogs on a quarter acre piece of land which is also her home which she says is enough for keeping the number of dogs she has.

Through selling her first set, she managed to create a market for her dogs for she now has regular customers from all over the country who include individuals and security firms.

“Most of my customers buy them for security reasons especially the security firms who prefer the trained adult dogs,” she says.

She observes that the dogs give birth after seven months, and if kept in a good environment and fed well, they are able to deliver up to 12 puppies at ago.

Muriuki wakes up at 5:30am daily to clean the kennels and feed the dogs before she leaves home for other errands.

Joy She adds that seeing the different sizes of dogs in her compound not only gives her financial satisfaction but also gives her joy of what she has achieved so far.

“De-worming them and keeping them clean together with feeding them well reduces the number of visits to the veterinary doctor,” she adds.

Her customers who buy the dogs for home security prefer the young ones between the ages of two and five months which she sells between Kshs30, 000 and Ksh35, 000.

Muriuki says that adult dogs are expensive

Ms. Muriuki attending to her dogs. There is high demand for dogs due to the escalating insecurity in the country. Picture by Magdalene Wanja and fetch up to Kshs.120, 000 that she says mature after 12 months if well taken care of.

Through the venture, she has managed to educate her children and also start a teddy bear business within Nakuru town.

“Having the passion for the pet will also make you commit yourself to take care of them. This includes feeding them well and cleaning their kennels,” she says.

Currently she has over 20 dogs with seven adult ones that she says are ready for the market,

as they are over 12 months old.

She calls on the youth to try their hand on the business before they acquire permanent employment as it will be a way of attaining independence and keeping them busy to avoid idleness which results in drug abuse and increase of criminal activities.

“Dogs are a good source of security and they are trainable so it only requires a few hours of one’s time and the only commitment is to love them, “she adds.

Police protection fee for illegal liquor brewers high

I

…By Ben Oroko llegal changaa brewers and sellers in Kisii County, continue to wallow in poverty as they toil to make ends meet, but only to lose all their profits from the illicit trade to police officers who solicit for protection fees from them.

So worrying is the situation, with revelations that these women continue being enslaved to the life-threatening trade, despite making them poor in the presence of making huge sales out of thousands of litres of the illicit brews they makeThe situation has attracted the attention of Kisii Catholic Cathedral Parish priest, Father Lawrence Nyaanga who is leading a crusade against illicit brews and economic empowerment initiatives for women who have quit chang’aa brewing for alternative business ventures.

Nyaanga laments that, women dealing in chang’aa trade from the region continued mov-

ing towards the den of poverty, despite making huge sales from volumes of chang’aa litres they sell locally and for export to other towns across the country.

“It is a pity if one visits a home of veteran chang’aa brewer from the region, since they are very poor by all standards as compared to their neighbours who are not chang’aa brewers. This is because the trade involves a lot of dependants, with the police topping the list of those soliciting for exorbitant monthly protection fees from the brewers, “regrets Nyaanga

Initiative The priest, has initiated illicit brews crackdown campaign in partnership with the chiefs, to save women from the consequences of the chang’aa trade and have them guided on identifying ideal business ventures that can transform them economically and ensure their children go to school.

“Women dealing in chang’aa brewing are a serious threat to their children’s education, since all the time they are on the run to evade police arrests if they have not paid their protection fees as agreed, making it difficult for children from such families to concentrate on their education,” states Nyaanga Nyaanga regrets that, chang’aa brewing trade endangered children’s life careers, especially girls who are tempted to engage in brewing, tempting some of them to engage in unprotected sex with the patrons much to the detriment of their health at the expense of their education.

The cleric says, chang’aa brewing continues threatening the marriage institution, with women in the trade failing to respect either their marriages or their patrons’ marriages through engagement in extra-marital relationships which lead to family conflicts and Gender-Based Violence (GNBV) in families.

Nyaanga challenges women engaged in chang’aa trade to quit the trade and mobilize themselves in to groups and liase with his office for guidance on how they can access funds from well wishers or public funds kitties, to empower themselves economically and transform their families.

Value Mrs. Judy Kerubo, an assistant Chief for Kisii Township Sub-Location, concurs with Nyaanga that chang’aa brewing does not add any value to the brewers as majority of the dealers lived in poverty and deplorable living conditions.

Kerubo challenges women in chang’aa brewing to quit the trade and seek alternative businesses which can be funded through national government and county-based funds kitties, to enable them start small-scale business ventures.

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

11

Request for condom use causing harm to women in Kisii …By Ben Oroko

T

hat violence kills and disables women between the ages of 15 - 44 as cancer cannot be gainsaid. Its toll on women’s health surpasses that of traffic-related accidents and malaria combined.

In many parts of the world, Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) is on the rise. GBV knows no boundaries - economic, social or geographic and takes many forms from domestic confrontations that leave millions of women across the world living in fear to sexual abuse and rape among other GBV incidents.

Woman that, she is not alone since majority of her peers in the village were suffering the same consequences in silence, as they have no option as their spouses were the only family breadwinners and if they dare take action against them they are the ones to suffer.

She discloses that, her tribulations and those of her peers are informed by some men from the Gusii community’s myths and misconception about condom use during sexual intercourse.

Wrath

Experience Linet Kemunto (not her real name),a mother of three from Boitang’are village, Sameta sub-County in Kisii County recounts her bitter experience in her matrimonial home.

This follows a thorough beating she received from her husband when she tried to negotiate with him to use a condom during one of their sexual intercourses-not in bad faith, but out of her good intention to curb unintended pregnancy.

Unaware of Kemunto’s intention to request, the husband pounced on him with blows and kicks, before chasing him out of their house at midnight.

Kemunto confides to Kenyan

“Wife beating on grounds of demanding that their husbands use condoms in some circumstances during their sexual intercourse attracts men’s wrath, since they are poorly socialized that male condoms’ walls are allegedly smeared with HIV viruses in the name of lubricants,” discloses Kemunto.

Poor socialization of men from the community on the use of condoms during sexual intercourse, Kemunto says, has led to some men believing that condoms are meant for men who are not faithful to their wives, hence subjecting their wives to beating and

other forms of domestic violence when they negotiate for condom use.

Peter Mokaya, a father of two from Iyabe village in Kisii South District concurs with Kemunto that, poor socialization of local men on the circumstances under which their wives negotiate for condom use continues subjecting many women to domestic violence incidents perpetrated by their husbands who are not informed.

Mokaya says majority of the married

A mother with her baby picking vegetables in her farm in Kisii County.

Cases of violence against women are reportedly high in the county.

Picture by Ben Oroko

men from the rural setting in the region are poorly socialized on the importance of using male condoms in some circumstances during their sexual intercourse ,instead they misinterpret their wives’ demand for condom use to imply they are unfaithful in their marriages.”

He calls on reproductive health

experts and advocates to intensify public sensitization programmes that targets men and boys, to help change their negative attitudes about condom use and assure women of their safety and entitlement to their sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.

Gender-Based Violence and family planning

…By Ben Oroko

T

hough the freedom to choose the number of children and when to have them, is a fundamental human right, Gender-Based Violence (GBV) continues depriving women in the developing countries that right of exercising their sexual and reproductive health autonomy.

Every woman has the right to plan her pregnancies and have access to effective family planning methods to space or limit births and to prevent unintended pregnancies.

In many traditional African societies, majority of the women’s reproductive health decision-making, particularly on contraceptive use is shaped by fear of violence from disapproving male partners.

Promiscuity The prevailing cultural beliefs and myths in such societies view family planning as a tool promoting promiscuity among married women.

According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), men usually decide on the number, timing and frequency of sexual activity and use of contraceptives, sometimes through coercion or violence.

Mr. Moses Ariba from Gucha District in Kisii County concurs that, the Gusii community’s culture is against married women using any modern family planning methods with a belief that such methods expose women to

promiscuous behaviour.

Ariba says, the beliefs and myths are based on the community’s culture which measures a man’s sexual fertility by the number of children he sires, with preference given to the number of sons he fathers.

Ariba observes that to majority of the Gusii community men, a woman’s use of family planning contraceptives may be perceived as a challenge to her partner’s masculinity.

Ms. Phanice Kemunto, a nurse in charge of Masongo Dispensary in Kisii County blames GBV against married women seeking family planning services on men’s failure to play their part in planning their families.

Kemunto says, GBV against women who are seeking family planning services is widespread in the region, since majority of the men were reluctant to accompany their wives to reproductive health clinics for advice and counseling on family planning as they viewed the facilities as a ‘woman’s place’.

“Widespread myths and misconceptions

about family planning continue exposing women seeking family planning methods in the region to incidents of GBV with their male partners accusing them of embracing infidelity,” she says.

Fearing violence from their male partners, Kemunto discloses that, majority of her clients who seek injectable contraceptives at the health facility normally request her to write for them their next appointment date on a piece of paper from where they will mark the date on calendars at home to evade their male partners’ attention.

Kemunto regrets that, majority of the women in the region continued suffering in silence from the effects of GBV on their sexual and reproductive health rights due to lack of economic empowerment, with majority of the married women depending on their husbands.

Josephine Moraa (not her real name) from Nyamarambe, Gucha South District in Kisii County admits that majority of the married

“Widespread myths and misconceptions about family planning continue exposing women seeking family planning methods in the region to incidents of GBV with their male partners accusing them of embracing infidelity.” Ms. Phanice Kemunto,

women seeking family planning services in the region faced a serious threat of GBV from their male partners who were against family planning methods.

Moraa, a mother of three, recounts how her husband battered her after he discovered that she was using family planning pills without his permission.

She discloses that, her husband ransacked their bedroom and found the pills under the mattress and threw them in the toilet after a thorough beating, warning her of dire consequences should he find her with the pills again.

“After the beating from my husband, I changed tact and went to a reproductive health clinic and asked to be given a family planning method that my husband would not discover.

I have since been under a three-month injectable contraceptive,” Moraa discloses.

Pills She discloses that, she goes for her contraceptive appointments at the clinic under the guise of taking her baby for a clinic check-up to avoid her husband’s attention, though he continues questioning why she has taken long without getting pregnant.

According to Family Planning International Assistance (FPIA),women in Kenya are reported to have forged their partners’ signatures rather than risk violence or abandonment by requesting permission to use family planning services.

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Issue Number 45 • April 2014

East African Leading Woman Scientist Wins International Award …By Duncan Mboyah

T

he International Centre for Insect Physiology and Ecology (ICIPE) Director General Dr Segenet Kelemu has won the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science award, making her the first woman from Africa to win the prestigious award.

Dr Kelemu got the award following her research on how microorganisms living in symbiosis with forage grasses can improve their capacity to resist disease and adapt to environmental and climate change.

Solutions According to the organisers, her work in providing new solutions for ecologically responsible food crop production, especially local small scale farmers.

Dr Kelemu, the first woman to head ICIPE and four other women scientists from Japan, Argentina, France and the United States of America (USA) are being honoured for major scientific advancements that are helping solve some of society’s greatest challenges, including cancer, depression, addiction and crop farming.

The Ethiopian born has received many international accolades, including CIAT’s Outstanding Senior Scientist Award, for her numerous contributions to the Centre and its mission, and the prestigious Friendship Award granted by the People’s Republic of China, for outstanding contributions to China’s economic and social development.

In 2011, she jointly with ICIPE sci-

entist Prof Zeyaur Khan, was awarded the TWAS Prize for Agricultural Sciences, by TWAS, The World Academy of Sciences.

The ICIPE boss is actively engaged within the global scientific community, having published widely in refereed publications and throughout her professional services, as an editor of peer reviewed journals and a member of a variety of international committees focusing on research for development.

Candidates for the L’Oréal-UNESCO for Women in Science Awards were nominated by a network of more than 1,000 international scientists. The five Laureates were then selected by an independent jury chaired by Professor Günter Blobel and composed of twelve eminent members of the international scientific community.

Throughout the program’s 16-year history L’Oréal and UNESCO have worked to support the advancement of women researchers. Every year the program pays tribute to exceptional women scientists and highlights their contributions to changing the world. Since 1998 the program has recognized more than 2,000 women around the globe (82 Laureates, including two who later won the Nobel Prize) and 1,920 Fellows.

Science The L’Oréal Foundation is committed to two main causes, that of science and that of beauty care as a means to helping the most vulnerable members of society. Based on values of excellence, generosity and creativity, science is at the core of the Foundation’s commit-

ments, most particularly its commitment to supporting women researchers through its For Women in Science Program, a worldwide initiative in partnership with UNESCO. During the ceremony, the findings of a report that addresses the status of underrepresentation of women in the scientific professions and underscores the fact that the situation has improved only slightly over the past ten years will be launched.

Exhibition Beginning March 14, 2014 passengers from around the world in all terminals of the Charles de Gaulle and Orly airports will discover portrait exhibit of the five Laureates of the five Laureates by renowned American photographer Julian Dufort. The photographer immersed himself in each Laureate’s daily routine in order to truly represent the reality of their lives and capture the person behind the female scientist.

The other winners are Prof Kayo Inaba – immunology and medicine (Japan), Prof. Cecilia Bouzat – Biophysics (Argentina), Prof. Laurie Glimcher – Immunology and Medicine (USA) and Prof Brigitte Kieffer – neurology (France). Each woman represents a unique career path combining exceptional talent, a deep commitment to

Dr. Kelemu, middle, in the field doing research on grass. Below, she is in the laboratory doing research. Courtesy pictures. her profession and remarkable courage in a field still largely dominated by men.

Prior to her appointment to head ICIPE, Dr Kelemu was the Vice President for Programmes at the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA).

She joined AGRA from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), where she served as Director of

the Biosciences eastern and central Africa (BecA). Previously, Dr. Kelemu was a Senior Scientist, and later the Leader of Crop and Agro ecosystem Health Management, at the International Centre for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in Cali, Colombia. She has also worked as a researcher at Cornell University, and at Montana and Kansas State Universities, in the USA.

Is this society fair to the vulnerable girl?

…By Jill Anami

A

15-year-old girl struggling from autism is raped and impregnated by an old man and given her condition, she is not aware of what had happened.

After some months it was discovered that she was expectant only after her sister realised that she had missed her monthly period.

Through various counselling sessions, she is able to identify the culprit she reports to the police who immediately arrests him only for the old man to give the local chief of Kariobangi area Kshs20,000 to walk a away scot free.

The man tells the family that if Sharon*** (not her real name) does not give birth to a male child then he will not take responsibility. Unaware of the brutal act he did, he walks away a free man.

Sharon gives birth to a baby boy called Prince***. According Sharon’s mother, the nurses performed an act of negligence by not stitching Sharon’ wound for 24 hours after delivery and this was only done after her elder sister intervened.

The nurses further ignored her condition of autism and did not guide Sharon*** on breastfeeding her son during her stays in hospital. This

resulted to low immunity in the child as the child was sickly.

One year three months down the line after the baby was born; the baby succumbed to acute pneumonia and died. During the mourning period, her first cousin raped her, again.

This time the culprit is caught in the act and is taken to the local police station where he is locked up for a week and he was released after he gave the local administration Kshs.20,000. Yet another molester is out on the streets, and no fair justice is served for the young girl.

This is one of the many untold rape cases of the vulnerable girls in the society.

Rape Women who are living in the informal settlements are targeted, raped and in some cases led to death. Children are extremely vulnerable to sexual violence as well as of late cases of young girls than adults are being treated for rape in various health facilities in the country.

What is outrageous is that the local administration seems to condone such brutal behaviour yet the law of Kenya deter sexual assault and punishes the abusers yet the acts continue on a regular

basis. In all the cases reported to the media, corruption is involved.

Many rape culprits have been released after bribing the t officials whose duty is to protect the law and the vulnerable people in the society like Sharon. As a result the rape cases that goes on in informal settlements and other areas like Kariobangi has multiplied.

The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey KDHS 2008 09, shows that 45 percent of women aged 15-49 have experienced either physical or sexual violence. Reports show that rape cases have escalated to about 338 in 2013 compared to the same time in 2011 where there were 297 reported cases and 232 incidents in 2012.

According to the Institute Of Development Studies Evidence Report, Violence and crime are endemic in Nairobi’s informal settlements, where they are entangle with wider problems of vulnerability.

Widespread poverty and lack of livelihood opportunities for a large proportion of the urban poor exacerbate their vulnerability to being victimised by non-state violent actors and sections of the state implicated, inciting and perpetrating violence and crime.

The failure by the Government to provide basic needs in health, education and social care, as well as a lack of effective policing has created an opening that criminal organisations and gangs have exploited.

In poorer areas of Nairobi, they provide illegal connections to public utilities, mediate access to economic opportunities, and operate protection rackets. In some cases, these activities have been carried out with the knowledge and sometimes active involvement of the State.

Abuse Sharon*** is one of the many vulnerable girls molested abused and battered in Nairobi’s sprawling informal settlements. And as long as there are no repercussions for the rape by these abusers, it will not cease.

Introduction of legislation and frameworks on sexual violence is a key priority. Relevant acts and policies are needed so as to ensure full implementation.

Sharon*** and many others whose tragic stories are not publicised need help. Fighting social insecurity should be made as a priority and there is need to fight for their rights.

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

13

Lesotho celebrates Early marriage late Wangari Mathaai ruining future

…By Diana Wanyonyi

M

atdiztzo esta Rakhuzi is mother of five children, a mother who arrived very early at the historical site of Fika le Mohala in Ha Masana area in the Kingdom of Lesotho where the founder of Basotho used to hold a public meeting while standing on the rock for tree planting exercise during the celebration of World Environment day and Wangari Maathai Day 2014.

Looking jovial as she planted one tree to another in memory of Kenya’s Nobel Peace Prize winner late Wangari Maathai who died in 2011, Ms. Rakhuz says the trees will be more beneficial for her and her future generations by providing firewood and recreational cites for the villagers and her offspring’s.

“I came early today because I got the message saying that we are going to celebrate the environment day and so far I have planted more the 20 tree seedlings. I feel good and i would still need to do more because these trees will be very beneficial to us and my offspring.” She said.

…By Patrick Mutisya

E

Planting At her early 50’s, Ms. Rakhuz was not deterred by her age, she joined other women in singing while planting trees.

“This tress we are planting is rich in medicinal value and also it will help us in preventing soil erosion,” she says.

Mr. Elias Sekoati Sekaleli, Director in the Ministry of Forestry and Land Reclamation in Lesotho said productive land is small due to degradation of the land.

“Agricultural land comprises of eight percent as much of it has turned to marginal land because of continuers’ degradation, mountains comprise of 60 percent and the remaining percentage is foothill,” he adds.

The Director however challenged women and youths to engage in transforming their environmental landscape.

“Women and youths need to realize that they have crucial role to play in changing their local environment by rehabilitating the land unlike most men who have secured jobs in mining companies in the nearby country of South Africa. Women are many than men in the ratio of 4:3. We hope that we are also going to get our own Wangari Mathaai here in Lesotho,” says.

Globally agricultural productivity has risen exponentially, resulting in extraordinary growth in food output, this has led to degradation of soils, polluted and exhausted on the natural resources.

According to Food and Agricultural Organisation representative Mr. Gaoju Han, agricultural productivity has risen hence resulting in extraordinary growth in food output.

Resources “This growth has however put great stress on the natural resources; it has degraded soils, pollutes freshwater supplies, encroached on forests, depleted wild fish stocks and narrowed biodiversity,” he notes.

He observes that the growth in agricultural output has not ensured food security for the 840 million people who face daily food shortages instead one third of food produced globally is wasted.

“Food wastage is one of the biggest sources of the green house emission that help drive the process of climate change which in turn creates daunting adaption challenges for the farming communities,” he says.

Lesotho being a landlocked country sur-

of girl child

Matdiztzo Rakhuzi planting a tree on World Environment Day. rounded entirely by South Africa with the largest part being covered with mountains, Han said that land degradation in Lesotho is real and is hard hitting for majority of rural households who depend on agriculture for their livelihoods.

“The degrading soils are no longer responsive to the level of fertilizer application that an average farmer can afford hence resulting in low production and increasing vulnerability to food insecurity,” he adds.

Han warns that the productivity of expensively kept animals in Lesotho has led to rapidly degrading grazing lands.

“It’s becoming increasingly difficult for countries like Lesotho to stop overgrazing and halt the degradation of rangelands given the land is used communally while livestock are private property,” he adds.

Degradation Recent report from United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) warns that up to 849 million hectares of natural land may be degraded by 2050 should current trends of unsustainable land use continues.

The Head of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Southern Africa Cecilia Njenga reveals that the world has witnessed an unprecedented sharp decline in terrestrial ecosystem services and functions during the last past decades.

“Agriculture currently consumes more than 30 per cent of the world’s large area and crop plant that covers around 10 per cent of the global land. Between 1961 and 2007 crop plant expanded by 11 per cent, a trend that continues to grow forest and wetland have been converted to agricultural land to feed the growing population but at a cost that is not sustainable,” she adds.

She further adds that with an expanding global population and worldwide trends towards urbanization up to five per cent of global land is expected to cover to build up

areas which are a great threat to growing agriculture.

Ms. Tumusiime Rhoda Peace, Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture African Union Commission urged Africans to ensure that the continent’s abundant natural resources are by priority, harnessed to catalyze sustainable development.

Demand “Land is under increasing demand and pressure from competing uses such as agriculture, forestry and pasture as well as energy production, urbanization and extraction of raw materials,” she says.

She calls for the harnessing of the continent’s abundant natural resources to catalyze sustainable development.

“Empirical evidence indicates that of the world’s 1.2 billion hectares of moderately and severely degraded soil, Africa has the largest areas.

She says that a study done by Taylor and Francis indicates that between 1985 and 2000, Africa has lost 25 million hectares to desertification, 60 million hectares to Stalinization and50 million hectares to soil erosion.

She says that the selection of this year’s theme is a reflection of the commitment of the African leadership and political will to tackle the triple and intertwined challenges of environmental degradation, low agricultural productivity and food insecurity to the continent.

She observes that there is hardly any part of the continent that is immune to the scourge of land degradation.

For Mrs Rakhuzi her passion is to follow the footsteps late Professor Wangari Mathai one of the most widely respected women on the continent for her stand on conservation matters.

“I wants to be the next Wangari Maathai and will be inspecting the tress i have planted after every week, i have nicknamed them ‘Tatu’ after my only and lovely daughter,” she adds.

ven though the Constitution prohibits child marriages, the practice seems rampant in the rural areas across the country.

Some parents there are reportedly marrying off their daughters as early as at 14 years, with the notion that, it will help them escape from poverty.

Others follow this path out of the fear and stigma associated with teenage pregnancies and children born out of wedlock.

The controversial Marriage Bill prohibits marriage of children below the age of 18. It states that no person shall get engaged or betrothed to a person under the age of 18. The law also imposes stiff penalties to anyone who gets engaged at under age.

According to the Nursing Officer in charge of Ganze Health Centre, in Kilifi County, Winnie Muriuki, the girls are either seen as an economic burden or valued as capital for their exchange value in terms of goods, money and livestock.

“The worrying trend is that parents marry off their daughters in order to get livestock and money which they start to count immediately they are born. To many, education of the girl child is not a priority as compared to the richness she will bring into their family,” says Muriuki.

“The local culture does not value the girl child as an important asset in the society, but they believe that the girl child should be born, married off and give birth to children too. Lack of education and good health for the girl child is not a priority here,” says Muriuki.

The nurse laments that, when the some girl sees her age mates getting married and having children, they also get attracted to follow the same path due to pressure from parents who do not value education.

Sifa Gharama, a Form One students’ marriage has forced his wife to start practicing family planning in order to prevent more pregnancies before he completes his secondary education.

The 16 year old father of one, married his wife a year ago after she got pregnant with his child, something which led the 15 year old girl to stop schooling and get married.

Gharama from Tsangaraweni area in Ganze, Kilifi County said even though he is married, his plans for now is first to complete his education, pursue a course and get employed before having a proper plan for his family.

This worries his wife, Ruth Sifa, a mother of a five-month-old child who has used Jadelle implant method of family planning to prevent her from getting pregnant before her man completes his secondary education in the next three years.

Ruth Sifa is among many other young girls who have been married at a young age and are stressed that their education has been thwarted by instant marriage and pregnancy.

Muriuki urged parents to treasure and support the girl-child as the boy-child but not see it as an achievement when a girl gets pregnant before she even completes her basic education.

According to research conducted by Plan International Kenya in many parts of the country, child marriage was high among girls as compared to boys.

The report shows that Kilifi County has the highest prevalence of child marriage with 47.4 percent followed by Homa Bay 38 percent, Kwale 37.9 percent, Bondo 29.5 percent and Tharaka 25.3 percent.

It also notes worrying trends on increasing number of girls engaged in child labour within their household and are working extra hours to fill up for their absent parents. Some of these girls are employed as house helps which hinders them from attending school.

According to the research, girls who are married at a young age mention lack of financial and emotional support from their spouses and in-laws, too many family responsibilities, lack of support with child care and failure to get time for education as the most challenges that hinder their progress once married.

Early marriages remain widely ignored violation of the health and development rights of girls and young women. It is culturally packaged as a social necessity, though in many cases this amounts to socially certified sexual abuse and exploitation of a child. It is considered to be one of the most persistent forms of endorsed sexual abuse of girls and young women.

Although The Kenya Country Report of 2012 cited poverty and lack of economic opportunities for girls in rural areas as major factors leading to girl-child marriages whereby some parents still view their girls as an economic burden which needs to be hastily disposed off in exchange for goods, money and livestock, gender targeted social protection programmes should be initiated to safeguard girls from falling into the vulnerability traps that predispose them to transactional sex leading to early pregnancy and marriage.

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Issue Number 45 • April 2014

Tribute to a fallen heroine

…By Odhiambo Orlale

For close to half a century, the name of Damaris Evangeline Ayodo featured prominently in the women’s movement in Kenya and beyond.

Mrs. Ayodo, as she was fondly called, brushed shoulders with the whois- who in the country and internationally by leading the women’s movement at a time when gender was not a very popular subject.

The former prefect at Kamagambo Adventist School in Rongo, Migori County, used every opportunity she had to ensure that her lot was not only given a voice to air their views on local and international issues, but were also recognised by the powers that be.

Described by friends and foes as “a focused, hard working, no nonsense and passionate woman leader” she rose from a humble beginning as a daughter of a priest in South Nyanza in the 1930s to become the vice President of the International Council of Women.

Quality Her former schoolmates at Kamagambo, include Dr. Phoebe Asiyo, who is a former Karachuonyo MP and Constitution of Kenya Review Commissioner.

The first president of the biggest grassroots women’s organization in the country, Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation on the eve of uhuru (independence 1963) , recalls that her lifelong friend exhibited her leadership qualities during her school days by always being focused, firm, fair and reasonable.

The former MP says their paths later met again in adult life when they were all involved in the women’s movement. Dr. Asiyo is the chairperson of the Caucus

for Women Leadership.

Says the former Karachuonyo MP: “We had a lot in common with Damaris right from the word go. Other than being schoolmates and daughters of priests, we all had some politics running in our blood. She was married to a politician, Samuel Ayodo, who was the first Minister of Tourism and Wildlife, in the first Cabinet of President Jomo Kenyatta, while I became an MP in 1979.”

Indeed, Mrs. Ayodo, who was one of the first graduates of Reesewood Secretarial College in Nairobi, in the early 1960s, believed that sky was the limit, as she used to hear her husband to teach his students before he plunged into politics and was elected as the first MP for Kasipul-Kabondo on the eve of independence in 1963.

Business Mrs. Ayodo then landed a job as a secretary at House of Manji, the leading biscuits baking company in Nairobi, and then moved to Engineering Agency Limited, where she quit and started her own business under thee name of Kuja Crafts Limited and later Kuja Clothing Store.

But come the 1980s, she felt that time had come to move on plunge into politics, like her husband, who was no longer active, by joining the women’s movement and leading from the front.

It was during that era that she brushed shoulders with the leading lights in the women’s movement like Dr. Asiyo, Mrs. Nyiva Mwenda, Dr. Julia Ojiambo, Dr. Eddah Gachukia, Prof.

Wangari Maathai, Mrs. Jane Kiano, Mrs. Grace Onyango, Prof. Maria Nzomo, Prof. Wanjiku Kabira and Mrs. Zipporah Kittony, Mrs. Grace Ogot among others.

Prof. Maathai was the founder of the Greenbelt Movement and was later awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005, Mrs. Mwendwa was the first woman to be appointed Cabinet Minister in 1995; Dr. Ojiambo was the first woman to be appointed as an Assistant Minister in the 1974; while Mrs. Onyango made history twice by being elected as the first female mayor and later MP for Kisumu town, in 1965 and in 1969), respectively.

Mrs. Ayodo was in the high-powered Kenyan delegation that attended the International Women’s Conference in Beijing, China, in 1997, which was led

by Mrs Nyiva, as Minister for Culture and Social Services.

Others were Mrs. Kittony and Mrs. Kiano former MYWO chairpersons.

Mrs. Mwendwa is the Kitui County Womens’ Representative, though they insist on being called MPs.

Rights Indeed, Mrs. Ayodo was a woman of substance and believed in fighting for her rights and those of women. It was that fighting spirit that made her go places literally. She was elected vice President of the National Council of Women where she served for three years.

It was during her at tenure the helm of NCW that Prof. Maathai got the greenlight to start her NGO, The Greenbelt Movement, which rubbed the authorities at that time by linking gender, human rights and the environment. She also served as Environment Assistant minister and MP for Tetu, from 20022007, and passed on in 2011.

But that was not enough for the soft-spoken leader, she campaigned and was later elected the vice president of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation,

Parallel roles placed by devolution unclear to the public

…By Omar Mwalago

C

onfusion is rife in Kwale County on the role that the County Assembly Members and those of Ward Administrators and Sub County Administrators.

A cross section of the residents now calling for community sensitisation educate and keep them informed about their respective roles in the devolved system.

Funds Msambweni Mandeleo ya Wanawake chairperson, Mishi Ali Nsindano, said that residents are unable to differentiate between the Members of the Council Assembly and ward administrators who were recently installed in all 20 wards.

Speaking at Ukunda showground during the International Women’s day, Nsindano said locals are more confused over the bursary fund issue as they do not know where to acquire the funds.

“We have seen ward administrators having bursary forms and MCAs also have theirs, so we fail to understand which bursary we are supposed to take for our children,” she said.

Nsindano said that locals who acquire the forms from the ward administrators are warned that they might not get bursary while those taking MCAs bursary forms are also warned they will not get bursary allocation in the area.

She said it is high time locals should be told which roles are played by sub-county administrators and ward administrators because they are in the dark.

“Let Kwale people be told which bursa-

ry forms are genuine and which are fake as well as what are mandates of these officials who were recently installed in sub counties and wards,” she added.

But a member of Kwale County Assembly, Michale Mutua, said that the county government acts are very clear on the issue of county government officials and members of county assembly on their roles.

Law “There should be no confusion at all because the law is very clear every one must stick to his or her work,” he said.

Mutua said that ward administrators, sub county administrators and village administrators are Governors’ Representatives in the grass roots.

The MCA said that ward representatives are representatives of the electorate in the County Assembly with three mandates or representation, oversight and making county laws.

“The Governor is represented by the recently installed sub County and ward level officials if you see them you have seen the Governor but MCAs represent locals so the confusion is uncalled for,” he added.

Mutua said that the MCAs recently passed a bursary policy which they approved to be used and forms distributed to locals warning that those distributing bursary forms apart from those passed by them should exposed.

“If there is anyone giving Kwale people bursary forms which MCAs did not approve he should be arrested because that is against the law that we make in the Assembly,” Mutua says.

She believed in fighting for women’s rights and today most of the success so far made is due to her struggles and her peersCOURTESY PICTURE the umbrella women’s movement with a grassroots network that was the envy of politicians and made the then President, Daniel Arap Moi, arm-twist its leaders later to merge it with the then ruling party, Kanu.

MYWO lost its glory and is a pale shadow of itself today even after divorcing itself from the then ruling party.

In her twilight years, Mrs. Ayodo switched to other development and social programmes and was later elected chairman of the Kenya Water for Health Organisation, which is an affiliate of Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) where she served for three years, and sat on the board of two leading girls schools in the country, Kenya High School and State House Girls High School, all in Nairobi.

Conference It was an irony that the former MYWO VP passed on the day Kenyan women leaders were gathered at an international conference, the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), in New York, in the United States to discuss the road ahead for women’s movement worldwide and post MDG 2015 (United Nations Millennium Development

Goals).

Among those who were in the Kenyan delegation and sent their condolences were Nominated Senator, Mrs Kittony, who is a former colleague and chairperson of MYWO, and Homa Bay County women’s representative, Hon. Gladys Wanga, who attended her funeral service in Nairobi later and described her as a “friend, mentor, and role model.”

Internationally Mrs. Ayodo was a founder of African American Connection, which helped thousands f Kenyans benefit from educational and business connections with universities and businessmen one of the most developed country in the world.

As she was laid to rest in her rural home in Wangapala village in Kabondo, next to her husband, the mother of nine, grandmother of 12 and great grandmother of two, tears rolled freely from the cheeks of members of the Ujamaa Maji Safi Women’s Group, which she founded, and Widow’s Group of the SDA Nairobi Central Church, where she was an active member.

Indeed, the women’s movement will never be the same again following the demise of one of its leading lights.

Culture blocks women’s leadership in cooperative movement

…By Ben Oroko

T

hough the constitution of Kenya 2010, provides that women and men have the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres, entrenched sociocultural stereotypes continue undermining women’s efforts to seek various leadership positions inthe co-operative movement institutions in Gusiiland.

The chairperson of Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) in the larger Gucha region, Mrs. Bathseba Sanaya blames negative cultural beliefs for low participation of women in leadership positions in the co-operative movement.

Attitude Singling out the patriarchal dominance in the traditional African Society›s decision- making processes, Sanaya challenges Gusii community members to embrace the new constitutional dispensation in the country and change their negative attitudes towards women›s leadership potential.

«Negative cultural stereotypes against women seeking various leadership positions in the region,continues scaring women seeking leadership in the co-operative institutions for fear of backlash from their community members who may mistaken their decision for undermining male

competitors,»states Sanaya.

She argues that, women seeking leadership positions in the co-operative organizations,especially primary producer coffee co-operative societies should not be seen as threats to their male competitors, instead they should be allowed to compete favourably for the positions and have the members decide through their vote on who to represent them.

Sanaya says time when outdated cultural stereotypes used to frustrate women’s leadership ambitions is long gone and local communities should allow potential women leaders offer themselves for whatever positions they want to actualize their leadership talents.

“I am reminding community members, to evaluate all those women aspiring for various leadership positions in the co-operative movement,based on their leadership abilities as their male competitors and not onthe basis of their gender,”says Sanaya Nyabuto Onyambu,a Kisii-based civil society activist concurs with Sanaya, that women seeking leadership in the co-operative movement should not be hindered by negative cultural stereotypes based on their gender,instead they should be judged on the basis of their ability to deliver.

Onyambu argues women’s leadership ability does not depend on their gender; instead both men and

women should be given a fair chance to actualize their leadership abilities without gender discrimination.

He regrets that, lack of land title deeds among majority of the women in the coffee producer cooperative societies hinder them from seeking leadership positions in the institutions,since the community’s customary laws do not allow women a right to land ownership which qualifies one to be a member in the coffee co-operative societies.

Leadership “With the local primary coffee co-operative societies’ by-laws restricting membership and shareholding to members with land ownership rights,women are naturally locked out of the co-operative leadership positions,”states Onyambu Onyambu says,even though land ownership may not be a requirement for membership in primary producer coffee co-operative societies,the right to supply coffee produce to the co-operatives are assigned to men who are naturally owners of land,relegating women who toil in the farms to the periphery when it comes to leadership of the institutions.

In many co-operative societies, Onyambu says, women in many cases become members upon the death of their husbands and it is only when they can aspire for leadership positions in the co-operatives.

Issue Number 45 • April 2014

15

Women and Children at risk Rape in DRC of climate change effects in is causing worries sub Saharan Africa … By Valerie Musavi

I

…By Duncan Mboyah

W

omen and children’s survival and development is threatened in sub Saharan Africa as they have been overlooked in their countries and international climate change agenda, a new report reveals.

The report by Plan International and Practical Action, shows that the implication of food shortage, mostly on women and children, leads to the increase of malnutrition, dehydration and poor health that forces children to absent themselves from school.

Funding “There is urgent need to translate funding to climate change programmes to target women-oriented programmes in energy, water and health,”. Grace Mukasa, Practical Action’s Regional Director said.

She observed that practical development in the region could only be realised once adequate attention was paid to gender sensitive programming in word and deed.

She calls for the promotion and support to civil society organisations that were visible in rural areas to engage communities in environmental and energy conservation measures.

Mukasa noted that communities need to be educated on how new technologies like improved stoves work so that they could stop over relying on charcoal and wood fuel through illegal logging.

Risk “Climate change poses the greatest risk to vulnerable members of the society and women and children pay a high price as often they are involved in looking for water, firewood and child labour,” Plan International Director for East and Southern Africa, Roland Angerer, said.

He observes that climate change threatens women and children’s access to food, clean water and energy hence calling for the interventions of the regional governments.

“Governments need to review policies and strategies and invest in water and energy development to relieve the burden on women and girls who trek for long distances in search of water and firewood,” the director added.

Angerer said that the study was informed by the impact of climate change that has become visible through the shortage of clean water,

Plan International Director for East and Southern Africa Mr. Roland Angerer and Practical Action’s Regional Director Ms. Grace Mukasa during the climate change report launch in Nairobi. Courtesy picture

lack of energy and shortage of food.

The report was done in Kenya, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, Malawi and South Sudan and recommends that children’s rights need to be integrated into national climate change responses and urgent need to integrate climate change into national child rights agenda.

It also challenges policy-makers and donors to ensure that the voice of the voiceless are heard and form part and parcel of development agenda for the success of the programmes.

According to Willie Tuimusing, Practical Action’s head of food, and agriculture and disaster risk reduction, governments in the region must act with urgency to prioritise women and child sensitive programmes in the national development agenda.

Resilience “Deliberate increases in development funding are essential to accelerate the uptake of appropriate technologies that is critical for vulnerable households to build re-

silience and adaptive capacity for survival and the welfare of women and children,” he adds.

Tuimusing says that serious micro schemes on renewal energy such as solar, wind and water should be initiated in regions where the resources are available in abundance to help communities with cheaper energy away from diesel sources.

He says that with the many water falls in many parts of the countries, development of simple turbines is enough to generate power for domestic consumption where they are metered and people pay for it instead of leaving the population to the mercy of felling down trees for survival.

Tuimusing notes that donor’s recommendation of supporting only mega solar farms is not possible and they should support micro schemes that can be managed by communities with ease.

The findings reveals that effects of climate change have a tendency of being accompanied by other human induced impacts such as overexploitation of natural resources.

It found out that during crisis, most children do not go to school due to lack of food, poor health and lack of school fees. Access to electricity is also blamed for poor performance in school as most children do not have the facility to extend their learning to late hours of the night.

The study found out that 63 percent of women and 25 percent of girls were more affected across the countries by water shortages since most of the households took long hours to get water.

On his part, Michael Muli, a primary school teacher in Matungulu, Machakos County, revealed that school dropout is almost 20 percent in his school.

“School children are affected by drought and they are forced out of school to take up manual jobs as sand harvesters and quarrying to supplement their parent’s effort,” he said.

The study laid emphasis on ways of improving access to sustainable energy for all to strengthen water and food security.

nternational campaigners are calling on African governments to stop rape and Gender Based Violence (GBV) in conflict zones in the Great Lake regions.

They are particularly concerned about the developments in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) where impunity in committing rape and other atrocities against women has been the order of the day.

“The happenings in DRC make the country a rape capital yet it has very capable women and men who can create change in the way things are going,” the Group Leader, Dr Leymah Gbowee, who is also a noble laureate, says.

In efforts to end rape and gender violence the fact-finding mission group met officials of institutions that are supporting survivors of sexual violence.

They met 350 women who presented recommendations to the regional government as well as the international community.

Solidarite Feminine pour la Paix et le Development Integral (SOFEPADI) together with the International Campaign to Stop Rape and Gender Violence, advocate for adequate care for survivors of sexual violence in DRC by the region’s government.

“We work with organizations around the world that care deeply about the situation of women in the DRC,” said Julienne Lusenge the President SOFEPADI. She notes that women in DRC want an end to sexual violation and recommends protection of women’s rights and focus on bringing institutions at the aid of women.

“What has happened to us is enough and we are calling for warring factions to stop revenging on us,” she says.

Services According to Ms. Elizabeth Bernstein, the Executive Director of the Nobel Women›s Initiative small organizations has the knowledge and skills to provide a full range of services to women in the DRC. “We are calling for more direct support to such grassroots organizations like SOFEPADI that do so much with so little,” she says.

Women in conflict nations suffer due to state violence and sexual violence face double trauma and therefore are in need of assistance.

The recommendations came up with lasting solutions to victims of rape and suggested how women can be protected in the region.

The recommendations include greater protection for human rights defenders, effective application of transitional justice in DRC and reparations for survivors, access to a full range of services for survivors (medical, psychological, legal and socio-economic, family planning) across the DRC, reform of the police, army and other judiciary mechanisms and the full implementation of the National Action plan on Sexual and Gender-based Violence.

The fact finding group included American journalists, philanthropists and women›s right experts visited Kigali (Rwanda), Bunia in the Orientale province of the DRC and Bukavu in South Kivu of the DRC.

Executive Director: Arthur Okwemba The Kenyan Woman is a publication of African Woman and Child Feature Service E-mail: info@awcfs.org www.awcfs.org

Managing Editor:

Jane Godia

Sub-Editors:

Duncan Mboya, Faith Muiruri and Odhiambo Orlale

Contributors:

Valerie Musavi, Patrick Mutisya, Mary Mwendwa, Magdalene Wanja, Ben Oroko, Jill Anami, Omar Mwalago

Design & layout:

Noel Lumbama (Noel Creative Media Ltd)