Kenyan Woman issue 22 by African Woman & Child Feature Service

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

The fall of a giant …By Odhiambo Orlale

s the curtains fell on Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai’s illustrious career and accomplished life, her legacy will be felt far and wide in the environment, thanks to the over 45 million trees, more than the population of Kenya, from the Green Belt Movement that have been planted in Kenya and parts of Africa to provide fuel, food, shelter, and income to support the members’ children’s education and household needs. The activity has created employment and improved soils and watersheds.

Fame Despite her international fame, influence, clout and wealth, Prof Maathai was always humble, accessible and a staunch defender of the down trodden and the environment, which she always had a passion for. On October 6, 2010, Prof Maathai was among the three women who received the International Freedom Award from National Civil Rights Museum. It was the first time that the museum had named three women as winners of the annual awards. Other than Prof Maathai the other two were actress Eva Longoria and civil rights pioneer Dorothy Cotton. That was just but one of the many recognition she received. Ever since she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, Maathai become a global figure, but the long walk to celebrity status was not a bed of roses and did not get into her head.

Karura Kenyans will always remember her for storming Karura Forest, on the outskirts of Nairobi, to lead environmentalists and human rights activists to stop the grabbing and destruction of the forest by the politically connected personalities in the Moi regime. She wanted them to replace the trees with buildings. The former University of Nairobi professor had to face off with riot policemen who lobed tear gas at her. During the midday bloody commotion she was not only roughed up by the riot police, but she also had her dreadlocks physically plucked off in the full glare of the media. Maathai had been a household name in Kenya for what was seen by the ruling party Kanu, and its leader Daniel arap Moi as bad reasons. Her name hit the headlines earlier when she filed a case against the President protesting his plans to hive off a big chunk of Uhuru Park

to build a 30-storey building to house the headquarters of his party, Kanu’s newspaper, Kenya Times. The then powerful President was so incensed by the legal action that he announced, soon after arrival from a foreign trip, that the case “is not going to go anywhere” and used abusive words against Maathai. The don did not relent and joined women and mothers of detained political prisoners who had stripped naked at Uhuru Park’s Freedom corner to protest against the dictatorial regime of Moi and his Kanu party. Maathai is a woman of many firsts both locally and internationally. She was the first African woman to win the coveted Nobel Peace prize for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace. In her recognition, it was said she represents a source of inspiration for everyone in Africa fighting for sustainable development, democracy and peace. Kenyans celebrated saying that she deserved the honour. Maathai also made a stab at State House in 1997, to join Kitui Central MP, Charity Ngilu, being the first women to vie for the presidency but they both lost.

In Prof Maathai, people and trees found comfort …By Rosemary Okello

s the world mourns the environmental icon Professor Wangari Muta Maathai, the saying: “the way we live our lives here on Earth will determine how we are remembered,” is very appropriate in describing the life of this Noble Peace Laureate, who is widely known for greening the world. In Prof Wangari Maathai, the world has lost an incredible woman who stopped at nothing to make it known that anyone who was an enemy of the environment was her enemy. Before she became the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize, Prof Wangari Maathai had long established herself as a woman who was far ahead of the pack. She was the first woman in East and Central Africa to receive a PhD and the first woman to head a university department in Kenya! And despite the fact that during those days women faced multiple barriers to excel even at primary school level, she defied the odds. Early in her youthful years, Prof Maathai realised that poverty among the poor, majority of whom were women, could not be alleviated unless natural resources were used sustainably. She was once quoted saying, “When people are poor they will not think about the longterm consequences of their actions on a forest, a stream, a field or a species. Once that resource is degraded or lost, the poor will get that much poorer.”

Politics That good news came two years after Tetu voters in Nyeri district, elected her to represent them in her second attempt. President Kibaki appointed her as an Assistant minister for Environment and Natural Resources. Maathai was born in Nyeri, in 1940. She obtained a degree in Biological Sciences from Mount St Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas (1964). She subsequently earned a Master of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh (1966), making her the first Kenyan woman to graduate with a Masters degree in Biological sciences. She pursued doctoral studies in Germany and the University of Nairobi, obtaining a PhD (1971) from the University of Nairobi where she also taught veterinary anatomy, being the first woman in Africa to get a doctorate on the subject. She was also active in the National Council of Women of Kenya in 1976-1987 and was its chairman in 1981 to 1987. She started the Greenbelt Movement started in 1977 with about 3,000 tree nurseries and to date it has seen more than 45 million trees planted to improve Kenya’s ecosystem. More than 100,000 women have been involved. Maathai served on the boards of several organisations including the United Nations Secretary General’s Advisory Board on Disarma-

EDITORIAL

Degradation

Picture: KenyanWoman correspondent

I stand before you and the world humbled by this recognition and uplifted by the honour of being the 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate. As the first African woman to receive this prize, I accept it on behalf of the people of Kenya and Africa, and indeed the world. I am especially mindful of women and the girl child. I hope it will encourage them to raise their voices and take more space for leadership. — Nobel Laureate Prof Wangari Maathai’s ment. She has addressed the UN on several occasions and spoke on behalf of women at special sessions of the General Assembly for the fiveyear review of the earth summit. She was a delegate to the historic National Constitutional Review

Conference at Bomas of Kenya as an MP, and chaired the committee on culture, which came up with the bulk of what was adopted by Kenyans during the 2010 August referendum that is in the new ConContinued on page 4

But what distinguished her with many of her peers was how she weaved together the idea of protecting global and local environments and long-lasting peace. For her, it was critical that people around the world take action to reverse environmental degradation and its negative impacts on our lives and those of other species. Destruction of the environment, she affirmed, was a harbinger for conflict. Hence her petty subject of environment and peace. Her Green Belt Movement, which she founded, was a local response to a local problem that has had an international appeal This inspiration to protect the environment did not start in adulthood like the way it does with many of us. It all started in her childhood. During her Nobel lecture, she shared her childhood memories of growing up in rural Kenya when she would visit a stream next to her home to fetch water for her mother: “I would drink water straight from the stream. Playing among the arrowroot leaves I tried in vain to pick up the strands of frogs’ eggs, believing they were beads. But every time I put my little fingers under them they would break. Later, I saw thousands of tadpoles: black, energetic and wriggling through the clear water against the background of the brown earth. This is the world I inherited from my parents. Today, over 50 years later, the stream has dried up, women walk long distances for water, which is not always clean, and children will never know what they have lost.” This powerful quote puts into context the reason for Professor Maathai’s zeal to save the Continued on page 6

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Kenya passes law against female genital mutilation

enya has become the latest African country to make female genital mutilation illegal. The practice is still widespread in Africa, despite African Union opposition. Kenya is the most recent African country to ban female genital mutilation, with the passing of a law making it illegal to practice or procure it or take somebody abroad for cutting. The law also prohibits derogatory remarks about women who have not undergone FGM. Offenders may be jailed or fined or both. Members of the Kenyan Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) said it was a historic day when the law was passed. Kewopa chairperson Linah Kilimo said the move would improve school attendance. Nominated MP Sophia Abdi Noor said: “I have fought for 18 years to

achieve this legislation. Today is ‘independence day’ for women. Men got their independence in 1963 but today women have achieved independence from the cruel hands of society.”

Violation Unicef congratulated Kenya and its child protection specialist in Kenya, Zeinab Ahmed said: “It is a great day for the girl child of Kenya. FGM is a serious violation of the rights of the child and women. This Bill gives an indication from the government that it is not just a cultural practice that can go on.” She added: “The Government has taken a bold step and will not tolerate any more violations. I applaud the work of Kewopa, the Ministry of Gender and the many other partners who have worked tirelessly to ensure that girls are protected from FGM.” Nobody imagines this means FGM will ever recur in Kenya but

making it illegal is a massive step towards changing attitudes and giving strength to those who oppose the practice. Kenya follows a number of African governments in outlawing the practice. According to the Pan African News Agency(PANA), at the time of the African Union summit in June, which proposed prohibition of FGM, Benin, Ivory Coast, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Niger, Nigeria, Kenya, Central African Republic, Senegal, Chad, Tanzania, Togo and Uganda already had legislation against it. But in nine countries (including some of those where it is illegal), it is still widely practiced. In Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Somalia and Sudan, 85 per cent of women undergo mutilation. WUNRN

Janet Naning’oi a crusader who has proved that one can gain respect without the cut. (File photo)

Constitution clear on gender representation

Women reflecting on their achievements …By Siaanoi Marima

enyan women paused to reflect on their journey to empowerment which has had its highs and lows. The event dubbed “Celebrating Women’s Movement towards a New Kenya” was made possible by UN Women. The packed hall had over 300 women and all the counties were represented. Women from academia and civil society made brief presentations on the women’s movement in

Kenya. Chief guest Justin Muturi applauded the women’s movement in the country. “It’s a new Kenya, we are no longer looking at a dark tunnel. There is light at the end of it. Women have fought for and bled for this country. This constitution is for the people of Kenya, including women,” he noted. UN Women representative Zebib Kavuma said it was historical moment for Kenyan women. “Women can lead and be at the forefront. This is our moment. If we do not take it, it will never happen,”

observed Kavuma said. She told the women representing all corners of Kenya that the common denominator is the fact that they are all women. She urged them to look at setbacks as an opportunity to become stronger. “Setbacks do not mean it’s the end of the road, they makes us stronger.” The women’s movement in Kenya has experienced hurdles on its journey to empowerment. The event was an opportune time to reflect, to regroup and to re-energize for the road ahead.

Women in Isiolo urged to eye top positions …By Hussein Dido

omen in the arid and semi-arid lands of upper Eastern Kenya have been urged to take up positions and compete for elective positions in the new political dispensation. Women leaders from Isiolo who were led by Maendeleo ya Wanawake chairlady Asili Fayo and Mumina Konsa said the elective positions in the counties were not reserved for men and that they must brace themselves to battle it out with others. Fayo regretted that since independence Upper Eastern has never voted for a woman into any elective position despite women comprising 60 per cent of the voters in the region. Konso urged women in Kenya to fight for their rights adding that the recent Cabinet decision to form a task force to look into one-third gender representation on elective posts was unconstitutional. Recently, the Cabinet and a section of the MPs argued that implementation of the Constitution in its current form would not be possible the forth coming elections. However, the women leaders challenged the Cabinet to choose out of the four options given out to them to ensure that women’s rights are not infringed upon. Mumina who intends to vie for an

Mumina Konsa. Picture: Hussein Dido

The law is clear and that unless the twothird representation threshold is met, the National Assembly, Senate and County assembly cannot be constituted.

elective position in the county, said women have fought for their constitutional rights in the last 25 years and that failing to address their issues means getting the country back to the dark days of the old Constitution. The women cautioned that the law was clear and that unless the two-third representation threshold is met, the National Assembly, Senate and County assembly cannot be constituted. They vowed to mobilise women’s groups, civil society organisations and pressure groups to ensure the clause on the Constitution is fulfilled. Constitution has put the question of gender representations in public office in the radar by ensuring that no more than two-third representation of any gender holds position. The constitutional provision has been skewed in favour of women who have suffered due to inherent historical and cultural prejudices and to correct the wrongs and bring them at par with men in leadership and decision making positions. In the national assembly a total of 61 seats have been reserved specially for women, 47 women representatives from county, six nominated by political parties, one youth and one with disability. A total of about 116 women are needed to satisfy onethird fraction of 349 parliamentarians expected.

…By Valerie Aseto

he Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution (CIC) has said amendment to the provision for the one-third representation of women in Parliament will require a referendum. However, CIC has two proposals regarding how the stalemate could be resolved. First, it says the issue could be resolved by making a provision for nomination of women representatives or making a statute amendment to Article 97 to provide for party list in accordance to Article 90.

Legislative According to CIC commissioner Catherine Mumma Article 27(8) in the Bill of Rights requires the State to take legislative and other measures that not more than two-thirds of members of elective or appointive bodies be of the same gender. “Article 27 in the Bill of Rights though requires that a referendum has to be done to amend this provision,” explained Mumma who said the State should explore other avenues of actualising women representation. “The Constitution can only be changed if both the Senate and the National Assembly support the change with a two-thirds majority,” she observed. Mumma further said the Parliament also has an obligation to publicise any proposed changes and to have people debate about the changes. “Some provisions in the Constitution have special protection, they can only be altered if the people agree to their change in the Referendum and this includes the Bill of Rights where one provision for onethird representation of women is provided.”

This means that at least 72 of the 290 constituencies must elect women MPs in addition to the 47 county seats set aside for women. Speaking at women’s conference in Nairobi, Mumma said amendments were also not tenable at the moment since it could act as precedence to ‘mutilate ’the new laws. Mumma said CIC was comfortable with providing for nominations of women representative to meet the constitutional requirement. The second option, she said, was that the statute amendment could see Article 97 expanded by importing Article 177(b) to it to provide for party lists where the gap of representation can be bridged. However, to import the clause will require an amendment. This, she said would be a bit tricky since it is too early to amend the new laws. However, the Commissioner said there was no confusion regarding two-third women representation in Parliament as alleged by the politicians.

Balance She said two-third representation has been repeated severally in the new Constitution to show that it was very clear during the drafting of the new laws. “Article 27(8), 81(b) speaks clearly about the two third women representation,” she notes. Mumma at the same time warned those politicians who have been spreading rumours that the word ‘progressive right’ has been used in the Constitution to mean that all that women are entitled to could be achieved over a period of time as being misleading. “In articles 27, 54, 82 and 89, the word has been used specifically and, therefore, should be taken seriously as it is,” she confirmed.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda First African woman President of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in Geneva

…By Rosemary Okello

he name Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda speaks of trails of achievement both professionally and also in the history of women’s empowerment throughout the world. The Secretary General of the World Young Women’s Christian Association (World YWCA), a global network of women and young women leading social and economic change in 125 countries, Nyaradzai recently made history when she was elected the first President of the NGO Committee on the Status of Women in Geneva. Prior to that, Nyaradzai was the recipient of the Human Rights Defenders Awards in July this year conferred to her by the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association (ZWLA) on its third annual event.

Left: Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda. Top: Nyaradzai with women leaders at the Unifem Round Table. Pictures: KenyanWoman correspondent

Challenge She says the position is challenging and an honour to the women of Africa. “When I was requested to consider running for the position, I was at first hesitant but at the time felt that only last year, I was the nominee for the post of Secretary General for the UN-Women and here again the women were nominating me: this means they had confidence in my leadership.” The Committee of NGOs which is accredited to UN in Geneva provides a platform for collective advocacy on women’s issues to the world body. The Committee and its Working Group’s objective is to work in partnership with the UN and its specialised agencies to influence governments to respect the commitments they have made at world conferences and through international conventions and principles. It also seeks to maintain a global momentum for mainstreaming gender equality. Over the years, the NGO Committee on the Status of Women has been essential in breaking traditional frontiers and in changing the course of a complex and delicate debate on gender equality. It is also here in this Committee where one understands that the future debate on gender and development will not be located only at the surface of our needs or material desires (though essential) but at the most profound level of our existence and human transformation.

Compass According to the Committee’s objectives, transformation must not become a source of more gender inequality but a human compass to guide the humanisation of development thinking and practice. “For us, Geneva is very strategic since it is the headquarters of the UN Human Rights, World Health Organisation, United Nations Programme on HIV/Aids, Global Fund, Global Alliance on Vaccine, World Trade Organisation and International Telecommunications Union, and all these areas affect women in a fundamental way.” Nyaradzai says that the Committee has got its work cut out in that they are always at the forefront in organising themselves in addressing impact on ordinary women and

ensuring that women’s rights are integrated within the various UN agencies. They also create a platform for engagement with the global women’s movement, for example, if a national NGO like Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-K) goes to Geneva to engage either the UNAIDs or WHO, the committee acts as an adviser to such an NGO. They also are part of the convenor for the annual meeting on the UN Status of the Women meeting which normally takes place in New York and during such meetings work with the NGO committee in the city. Nyaradzai says the role of the Committee is to ensure access to the UN meetings and activities by the NGOs. Some of the significant activities of the Committee over the last decades have included: setting up workshops and panels at the NGO Forum in Huairou China prior to and during the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995. It convened a panel of UN interagency focal points to evaluate implementation of Beijing Platform for Action in 1996; organised with CONGO several panels within the theme Gender Equality at the Seoul International Conference of NGOs in Korea in 1999. It also organised jointly with the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Women’s Working Group which was the European preparatory regional meeting to Beijing Plus Five in January 2000 and again collaborated with

ECE governmental delegates in drafting the agreed conclusions. The Committee has also collaborated with its Working Groups to organise several panel meetings during the UN Special Session in Geneva in June 2000, on the follow-up to the Copenhagen Summit on Social Development in 1995; organised jointly with the World Bank a presentation of its Gender Equality and Development programme; organised panels at the UNCTAD Third Conference on Least Developed Countries in Bruxelles in May 2000. Since 1997, the Committee has organised Gender/Women caucuses and panels during the Commission on Human Rights as well as facilitated other gender equality meetings during important UN conferences. Reports on these activities have been published.

Advocacy The Committee issues on a periodic basis to bring attention to significant events at the UN requiring international advocacy. But despite these achievements and ensuring that women’s issues become part of the global agenda, Nyaradzai is concerned that the Committee’s work is now facing challenges especially in the past few years because there has been a shrinking of numbers of NGOs participating at the UN Conferences “yet what the women need is quality access to the inter-governmental discussions as a matter of right”.

For a person who firmly believes in shared and transformative leadership, Nyaradzai is looking at her position as the President of the Committee of UN NGOs in Geneva as an opportunity to reach out to every woman globally and ensure that they get access to information about the UN and also be able to understand the UN system. As a trained human rights lawyer with extensive experience in conflict resolution and mediation, for Nyaradzai, accepting her new responsibility was affirming the fact that God equips those who are called to serve. “I feel very humbled and the position is a three year term. This position is coming at a time when globally, we are thinking on how to accelerate the achievements of the Millennium Development Goals.” Even as she celebrates the new responsibility, Nyaradzai has hit the ground running. The Committee is currently putting plans together to start looking at the post-2015 MDG agenda and how it needs to be situated in the context of women’s rights. “We need to reclaim the critical areas of concern as agreed by women during the Beijing conference and this has been articulated within the Beijing Platform for Action,” she explains. She is of the opinion that women globally need to think critically on issues of human rights and also acknowledge that sexuality and repro-

ductive rights among women is one of the disempowering area among women. The other area is governance and security of which she says that it is not possible to talk about development when people are bleeding. “Wars and conflicts in many parts of the world have affected women,” Nyaradzai observes. She notes: “Democracy, governance and security are some of the critical areas which have been on the backburner when one looks at the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) indicators.” Giving example of the recent drought crisis in the Horn of Africa, Nyaradzai says it is a painful experience to see failure in governance which ends up in a humanitarian crisis without a blue print for development. “It is so shameful that Africa is so rich and yet the African woman is so poor.” These are some of the issues the Committee is working on and they are hopeful that by working with the UN and also through the various governments, there will come a time when they will get to hear of a society where a woman has never been discriminated against, exploited or abused, denigrated, or subjected to violence, and a society where women will give birth and life to communities and nations — and will construct a future — without violence, discrimination, abuse or denigration

Fact sheet

A trained human rights lawyer with extensive experience in conflict resolution and mediation, Gumbonzvanda also served as interim coordinator for the Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association during its formative stage and in the Ministry of Justice and Constitutional Affairs as a law officer. Gumbonzvanda has a Master’s degree in Private Law with specialisation in Constitutional Property Law from the University of South Africa and completed post-graduate work on conflict resolution at Uppsala University, Sweden. She is also a member of Women in Law and Development in Africa, Zimbabwe Women Lawyers Association and the World Conference on Religion and Peace. She serves on the Advisory Board for the African Centre for Women, Information and Communications Technology. She recently founded the Rozaria Memorial Trust (RMT), a charity organisation established in honour of her late mother who died a role model in her community in Murewa.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Maathai saves Karura forest for future generation Continued from page 1

stitution. In her acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, in Oslo, Norway Maathai had said: “I stand before you and the world humbled by this recognition and uplifted by the honour of being the 2004 Nobel Peace Laureate. As the first African woman to receive this prize, I accept it on behalf of the people of Kenya and Africa, and indeed the world. I am especially mindful of women and the girl child. I hope it will encourage them to raise their voices and take more space for leadership. I know the honour also gives a deep sense of pride to our men, both old and young. As a mother, I appreciate the inspiration this brings to the youth and urge them to use it to pursue their dreams.” Her fellow African Peace laureates, Presidents Nelson Mandela and F.W. de Klerk, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the late Chief Albert Luthuli, the late Anwar el-Sadat and the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan.

Difference Other than the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004, Maathai has been honoured so many times that she no longer cares to count. In June 1997, Maathai was elected by Earth Times as one of 100 persons in the world who have made a difference in the environmental arena. In April 2009, Maathai made history by being the first ever Kenyan to receive Japan’s highest honour, the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun. Maathai’s campaign, which stresses the concept of reduce, re-use, recycle and repair for environmental protection, has made her popular in Japan. Her dream of having a green world takes precedence. The Laureate’s inspiration for protecting land partly came from her childhood experiences and observations of nature in rural Kenya, which was influenced and nurtured by the formal education she was privileged to receive locally, in the United States and Germany. As she was growing up, she witnessed forests being cleared and replaced by commercial plantations, which destroyed local biodiversity and the capacity of the forests to conserve water. Prof Maathai is no more but her legacy lives on, thanks to the Green

Above: A section of Karura Forest. Right: Forestry and Wildlife Minister Noah Wekesa, Laureate Wangari Maathai (centre) and United Nations Environment Program Executive Director Mr Achim Steiner visit Kenya Forest Services (KFS) exhibition stands at Karura Forest on March 21st, 2011 during the launch of The International Year of Forests. The Year’s theme was: Forests For people. Pictures: KenyanWoman correspondent

Belt Movement, whose mandate is to respond to needs identified by rural women, namely lack of firewood, clean drinking water, balanced diets, shelter and income. Odhiambo Orlale is a media consultant in Kenya

In Prof Maathai, people and trees found comfort Continued from page 1

environment. She was convinced that the conservation and protection of the environment is a right as well as a responsibility and a need. This thinking informed her robust advocacy for the inclusion of issues of environment and natural resources in the Constitution during the Constitution Review Forum in 2003 at the Bomas of Kenya. To her, there was no boundary to environment, since it permeates people’s life and affects everyone irrespective of age, gender, community, tribe, religion. It also affects our future generations. “We must recognise that we share the earth with other members of the community of the living and

that we have a special responsibility to them since our very survival depends on their existence,” she warned the delegates who were attending the Constitutional Review Conference. She has over the years consistently believed that a clean and healthy environment is a basic right and that this right cannot be achieved unless it is acknowledged and respected along with other rights by a democratic government.

Livelihoods However, this does not absolve citizens from their responsibilities to uphold these rights in order to support their livelihoods rather than competing over resources. She noted: “We cannot alleviate poverty un-

less we find a way to use our natural resources sustainably.” Gender issues were also very close to her heart. Over the years, Professor Maathai invested a lot of time and emotion in efforts to empower the rural women. She constant explained to them and the concerned authorities the link between the deteriorating environment around them and a decline in their living standards.

Strength Picture: KenyanWoman correspondent

The rich legacy should inspire us to go a mile further from where she has left. — Rosemary Okello

It is these women she credits her work that saw her plant over 300 million trees. She acknowledges them as the cornerstone in the success of the Green Belt Movement. She is quoted as saying: “African women in general need to know that it’s OK for them to be the way they are - to see the way

they are as strength, and to be liberated from fear and from silence.” The Green Belt Movement is one of the world’s most successful programs combining community development with environmental protection. The movement has managed to transform tens of thousands of people living in poverty into selfreliant and self-confident. Its workers have managed to convince these people that planting trees will make a difference in their struggle to improve their lives and those of future generations. As we celebrate the rich legacy of Prof Wangari Maathai, her death should inspire us to go a mile further from where she has left. Yes we can do more in her honour if we believe in what she believed in: ‘WE CAN’.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Africa comes together for women’s empowerment …By Omwa Ombara

undreds of women from all walks of life showed up at the Panafric Hotel in August for a public forum on the Third Regional Conference for African Women in Political Leadership. The women, dressed in beautiful head gears and vitenges hustled and bustled in excitement as they glimped at the powerful panelists — Bothaina Kamel (first female presidential candidate – Egypt), Marie Jalloh (MP Sierra Leone), Maitre Ndeye Fatou Toure, (MP, Senegal) and Betty Amongi (MP Uganda). The excited women, so thirsty for knowledge on political leadership overwhelmed the panel as they asked for advice and demanded ideas and tricks that would help them participate in the new political dispensation. Youthful women demanded their space too as they took in every motherly advice from political veterans. In her opening remarks, moderator Belinda Obura, Senior News Anchor at Royal Media Services reminded the audience that as we launch campaigns for women candidates “it is easy to talk the talk but not walk the talk”. Kamel, with a pretty badge on her lapel saying “Egypt is my agenda” advised women to run the cause as a team work. “I announced my candidature through Twitter and I got responses from followers all around the world. My activities were not directed at women alone, I took to working for the whole society. I am a founder of two civil societies: ‘We Are Watching You’ and ‘Egyptians Against Corruption’. We are friends of organisations like US Against Corruption that supports our cause to end corruption. “I started my candidacy as a divorced woman and only got married two days ago,” she told a tickled crowd. She challenged women parliamentary aspirants to use the media to help them gain politically. Said Kamel: “In the beginning, local journalists did not taken me seriously but media in the West noticed me. I talked to The Guardian, British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Washington Post. If you have the right propaganda tool, let the media craft your image”. Toure of Senegal called for the need to ac-

celerate vast education for women. “Women should be sensitised in Africa on effectiveness and regional strategies. Senegal has a lot of female parliamentarians,” she said. In her statement, Amongi from Uganda said they ensured women’s participation in decision making. “There must be a provision to enhance your participation. We entrenched in our Constitution that women must have onethird representation in Parliament. In Uganda, there are constituencies reserved for women. The legal framework should not disadvantage women. Without a legal framework, women are headed nowhere,” observed Amongi. She informed the audience that the UN provision says women must occupy 30 per cent parliamentary representation yet Rwanda had (56.3), South Africa (44.5), Mozambique (39.2), Tanzania (36), Burundi (32), Nigeria (four), Kenya (9.8), Cape Verde (21) and Central Africa (ten).

Capacity Amongi reiterated the importance of women to confront Governments with facts. “Get all the protocols your country has signed. Flash it on their faces. You signed the Maputo Protocol promising 15 per cent budget on Health. Your power is in the legislation,” she said. She reiterated the need to increase women’s capacity through partnership with civil society. “The women want to contest but there is public thinking that women cannot rule. This is why women are not coming out to contest, not even one per cent. How do you make change if you are not participating?” she posed. Amongi added: “To have confidence to get women who develop confidence, we must mentor the women and encourage them to run for political office.” She said that in Uganda 40 per cent of the executive were men. “The men are so courageous, as they are always lobbying. The men are even ready to cry in front of the President, lobbying, advocating. The women on the other hand wait for a miracle to happen, hoping that their names will spring up,” Amongi challenged. She posed: “Where are the women? Why can’t women mobilise themselves? We must be our own greatest enemies.” She urged women to challenge the Govern-

ment on how far they have come in terms of enhancing women’s education and mobilisation. She further questioned the role of the citizenry in demanding responsibility in women. “All of us are citizens. Commitments are made by Government and are not 100 per cent honoured. The Government should make good their commitments especially in gender parity, education and maternal health. We lack resources but that is not our problem. “We investigated and discovered that over 65 per cent of Health Budget was going to workshops by civil servants and we demanded for accountability. You cannot demand for accountability if you do not know the commitments,” declared Amongi. On women’s issues and equality, the women must seek one voice in Parliament irrespective of their party affiliation. She gave an example of how in the last Parliament, the women Parliamentarians in Uganda refused to pass a bill until a budget was passed for maternal health. Amongi says as Ugandan women, MPs have identified four areas that ensure their participation in the leadership process. ‘We hold Government accountable and ensure they respond to gender budgeting equitably. Responding to questions raised by young women on how to participate in political leadership, Amongi encouraged them to contest. “I ran for office in 2001 when I was 24. I was not married. I did not sleep with anybody. During my campaigns, some people said ‘oh she will go and elope with people in Parliament’. But I told my supporters: In Parliament you do not look for your husband to speak for you. Forget age, marital status and set your agenda,” she said. Amongi had no intentions of staying long in Parliament and in her second term she will be training those who will take over in the next elections. Jalloh of Sierra Leone said they have a first Parliamentary Female Caucus where they are all women in diversity together. She said the caucus lobbies male Parliamentarians. “We talk to them as well as their girlfriends and wives or children so that by the time the bill moves to Parliament we have lobbied enough. We lobby with the Civil Society too. We just passed the Disability Act and the Youth Com-

mission. We realise we must support women to increase our political space,” she said. According to Jalloh women in Sierra Leone from all political parties come together for the cause of women and developed their gender policies. “The gateway to politics is through political parties,” reiterated Jalloh. She said after politics, she will want to set up a leadership training centre. “You can get all your degrees in politics but among the leadership qualities one must have are bravery, discipline and commitment,” observed Jalloh. According to Toure of Senegal political parties want to gain power yet politics is not an end in itself, it is a process. Toure would not want to remain in politics forever. She says: “In her world, politics means cash-crop farming, food processing and storage for better resources of revenue. Plan for it in the budget, create agricultural banks. If women had been supported, we would not have had famine.” She urged women to go into agro-business and cited Brazil and Turkey as individual countries manufacturing agricultural implements, reiterating that women are the majority especially in the rural areas and they practice agriculture.

Agriculture “Men take ownership of land. When you find women who have land, you will discover that the men take the most fertile parts. Women engage in agriculture to feed their families, right behind their houses. Women have always engaged in subsistence farming,” she observed. Femnet President, Madame Sylvie Ndongmo urged the women to take courage as the organisation would always be there for them. She said Femnet’s strategic plan 2011-2013 was on women’s in political power and governance and that there was necessity to enhance the capacity of women in this area. “Think of your agenda, don’t get derailed. Bring back the opponent on the issue,” Ndongmo said. She added: “Femnet encourages all the initiatives that have been taken by women to positions of power and as agents of change.” Pictures: Omwa Ombara

“The men are so courageous as they are always lobbying. The men are even ready to cry in front of the President, lobbying, advocating. The women wait for a miracle to happen, hoping that their names will spring up. Where are the women? We must be our own greatest enemies.”

“Men take ownership of land. When you find women who have land, you will discover that the men take the most fertile parts. Women engage in agriculture to feed their families, right behind their houses. Women have always engaged in subsistence farming,”

— Betty Amongi (MP Uganda)

— Hon Fatou Toure (MP, Senegal)

“I announced my candidature through Twitter and I got responses from followers all around the world. My activities were not directed at women alone, I took to working for the whole society. — Bothaina Kamel (Presidential Candidate Egypt)

“We talk to them as well as their girlfriends and wives or children so that by the time the bill moves to Parliament we have lobbied enough. We lobby with the Civil Society too. We just passed the Disability Act and the Youth Commission. — Marie Jalloh (MP Sierra Leone)

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

The role of women in politics H …By Barasa K. Nyukuri

istorical events in Kenya shows that political influence of the political and electoral processes through activities of women can either facilitate or obstruct free, fair and peaceful elections. It is widely acknowledged that electoral justice through participatory management can only be possible if the majority of the population is involved in the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the political and electoral processes. The main purpose of this paper is to identify and analyse the prospects and challenges of realising the directive principles of gender and affirmative action that makes it mandatory that in all elective and appointing bodies not more than two-third shall be of the same gender as we approach the 2012 general elections. The fact that these principles are categorically stated by the Constitution, any attempt to deviate from them renders the outcomes of such elections or appointments unconstitutional. The Constitution requires the state to formulate legislation and develop mechanisms for achieving this threshold in all public governance institutions.

Bills

Women leaders consult on way forward in the implementation of the Constitution. Participation is the key to integration.

Pictures: Omwa Ombara and file photo This constitutional requirement should be recognised and adhered to by all state organs and public offices and institutions in the Republic of Kenya, including political parties. Unless these requirements are addressed in the Elections Bill, Political quota criteria of the 290 constituenParties Bill and other relevant bills on cies and counties? Can political parties pro-actively representation chapters of the Concontribute to the solution by nomistitution, the next Parliament and by extension government is likely to be nating 50 per cent of either gender for declared illegal and unconstitutional all the elective positions of Parliament thus plunging the Country in a con- — Senate and National Assembly? Do we adopt a wait and see apstitutional crisis whose consequences proach and wait for the crisis to occur may be far reaching. We must appreciate the gravity of then look for a solution and the conthis constitutional dilemma and come sequences of such an approach when up with practical solutions to forestall there will be nor parliament to legisthe crisis, without compromising and late or amend the Constitution. What is your comment or critique diluting our national values and principles of governance outlined in Ar- on the proposals and do you have an alternative proposal or strategy on the ticle 10 of the Constitution. This calls for objectivity, sobriety, way forward with regard to this cruThis paper underscores the potenconstructive debates, dialogue and cial debate of ensuring that women the fact that the Elections and the consensus building on the appropri- are elected in the 2012 general elec- Political Parties Bills are going to be tial and importance of women parate and widely acceptable formula and tions and subsequent ones under the discussed and passed by the National ticipation in governance with specific theme: Implementing the Gender and Assembly any time before the dateline reference to the political and electoral way forward. processes stipulated in the ConstituThe fundamental questions that Affirmative Action Directive Prin- of August 26, 2011. The million dollar question to be tion of Kenya. should pre-occupy our minds include: ciples and Provisions of the ConstituThis is in line with the Foundation Can the next Parliament be exempted tion Beyond Rhetoric and Tokenism, answered is: “What strategies should be adopted by the women leaders, for Women Pastoralist Rights and FES from fulfilling the requirements of the theme of this Workshop? The paper points to the urgent political parties, civil society, es- of ensuring that women are elected to Articles 27(8) and 81(b) so as to spare this Country from another expensive need for critical analysis and review of pecially women led organisations, various elective positions in the 2012 and cumbersome referendum pro- the merits and demerits of each of the Commission on the Implementation as part of compliance with the direccess, which may jeopardise and erode above proposals and any other strate- of the Constitution ( CIC), Kenya tive principles of gender equity and the very core foundation of our politi- gies put forward by other stakeholders. Law Reform Commission (KLRC), equality as well as affirmative action Cabinet, State Law Office, Constitu- provided for in the Constitution, thus cal stability, cohesion and integration? tion Oversight Committee on the Article 27(8) and Article 81(b). Should we resolve crisis by This will in turn enable stakehold- Implementation of the Constitution( Article 27(8) states: In addition amending the Constitution to alter the Electoral System and other related ers to build consensus on the most CIOC), the soon to be established In- to measures contemplated in Clause provision thus Article 27(8) in the Bill suitable mechanism of responding to dependent Electoral and Boundaries (6), the state shall take legislative and of Rights, which can only be amended the constitutional crisis. Remember Commission (IEBC) and develop- other measures to implement the time is running out in terms of the ment partners to avert the looming principle that not more than twothrough another referendum? thirds of members of an elective or Is a referendum desirable at this legislative solution to this issue, given constitutional crisis?” appointive bodies shall be of time when political temperasame gender.” tures are rising under the nuThe fundamental questions that should pre-occupy our the Article 81 (b0 states that: merous national challenges The electoral system shall like food insecurity, ill health, minds include: Can the next Parliament be exempted comply with ensuring that corruption and implementing from fulfilling the requirements of Articles 27(8) and “not more than two thirds of the Constitution? What should of elective public be the referendum question/ 81(b) so as to spare this Country from another expensive members bodies shall be of the same issue? gender.” Do we introduce a rotaand cumbersome referendum process, which may It attempts to ignite debate tional formula of preserving on the above questions and jeopardise and erode the very core foundation of our some constituencies and counchallenges, without necessarties for one (female) gender political stability, cohesion and integration? ily prescribing any single soconstituency based on the

Consensus

lution to the looming constitutional crisis. It reviews the gains made by women with the promulgation of the new constitution on August 27, 2010, points on the prospects and merits of the provisions that are likely to promote gender equity and equality, while at the same time highlighting those that promote political and civil rights and freedoms of male and female genders in governance. Needless to say, the implementing agencies, especially the electoral management body (the IEBC), should be able to recognise rights and freedoms of all voters and candidates at each step of the electoral process.

Equality In this context, women constitute a critical population in our country that cannot be ignored. Indeed, free, fair and peaceful elections and good governance are an essential pre-condition for sustainable development and democracy of any society. These should be reflected in the following tenets; fairness and equal distribution of resources and opportunities, equity and equality regardless of gender and ethnic background, the rule of law, transparency, participation, consultation and accountability.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Women’s participation key to development …By Joyce Chimbi

esearch has shown that women account for more than half of the population of any country. Although according to the 2010 Census results women and men in Kenya are now almost striking a balance in regards to numbers, there are still more women than there are men. This large population of women is, however, invisible in key decision making process particularly in governance at both local and national level. Even though the trend is slowly changing with there being more women in the current Parliament than ever before, there is still need for more women in political leadership.

Change Of the 222 Members of Parliament, only 22 are women with only 18 having been elected and four being nominated. Since 2003 when the number of women stood at 18, there has been a notable positive change in how various ministries conduct business. The need for an engendered process cannot be over emphasised due to the fact that men and women leaders have been known to have varying political interests and consequently different practical strategic needs. “At the policy level, we have seen various gender responsive laws such as the Sexual Offences Act 2006 introduced in Parliament then by a sitting female MP, Hon Njoki Ndung’u; there is also the Children’s Act 2002, Employment Act 2007, Political Parties Act 2007,” explains Kakuvi Njoka, a Lawyer in Tharaka-Nithi County, Eastern region of Kenya. He adds: “The significance of these legislation in seeking gender equality and equity cannot be over emphasised.” The Employment Act as well as

the Political Parties Act look into key issues of gender representation in the socio-economic and political arena. They are geared towards promoting equal participation by both men and women and to discourage practices that are gender discriminative.

Marginalised “Both Acts provide a minimum threshold of the number of women, since they are the marginalised gender that should be considered in both employment and political parties. They, therefore, speak to the Presidential Decree that stated that there should be at least 30 percent of women representation in all public offices,” expounds Jane Malika, a gender activist in Nairobi. The Ministry of Finance has also developed budgets that are gender responsive. “The IMF and World have been known to finance countries at the Government level, therefore, continuing to marginalise women and denying them access to participate in economic development,” says Malika. “With the introduction of the Women Fund, a micro finance kitty, more women are now able to access loans from the Government but after being taken through various levels of capacity building,” explains Dan Maingi, an accountant in Kiambu County.

Policies The introduction of live coverage of Parliament has also shown a paradigm shift in the direction that debates in Parliament have taken and other policies that have resulted from these debates such as the Sessional Paper No 2 of 2006 on Gender Equality and Development, National Land Policy, National Reproductive and Health Policy, Gender Policy in Education 2007 and the National Policy for the Abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation (2008-2012).

Kenyan Women leaders consult with the Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs, Hon Mutula Kilonzo. Picture: KenyanWoman correspondent

Through the urging of female MPs, in 2007 the Government committed itself to set aside one billion shillings to address a fundamental problem. It had been noted that female pupils and students, particularly in rural areas where the population is more afflicted with poverty, would absent themselves from school for five days in a month due to a lack of sanitary towels. This translates to two months of not attending school in one academic year. In fact a recent study conducted by the African Population and Health Research Centre (APHRC) and the Division of Reproductive Health, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation, shows that sanitary towels are

not always available and girls from slums suffer the most. This public discussion of a topic that was previously taboo due to the conservative nature of the society has led to well wishers making donations towards ensuring that girls do not stay out of school due to a lack of sanitary towels. Imperative to note is also the process of Constitutional review process that recently saw Kenya promulgate a new Constitution. “In 2008, the then Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Martha Karua began to relentlessly push for a time table that would guide the review of the Constitution, together with other female MPs she also

ensured that the review process was gender sensitive,” explains Jennifer Masis, a politician and former Parliamentary aspirant from Mt Elgon. This can be reflected in the organisation of the Committee of Experts mandated with the task of drafting the Constitution as well as some of the clauses within the document which include the Affirmative Action Clause that at least a third of either gender should be represented in various elective positions. Although having more women in leadership positions do not translate into gender equality, women’s active participation in decision making is essential in promoting an endangered political process.

Guardian Angel for women and children “And that is when I truly came face to face with ethnicity syndrome, coming from different backgrounds and cultures, I was confident I would make a difference but I was dead wrong,”says Sharon. But that did not stop Sharon from taking up the challenge and with a bravely, Sharon made her first entrance on women issues and vied for a post in the Social Women Development Group which was influence by politicians across the region. “The honeymoon was perfect at sub location, location and division level but at the district level, my nightmare began and the syndrome of ethnicity took center stage. “I was confident I would go through after vying for the chairlady post but my efforts were thwarted by influential political figures and I found myself taking the secretarial post,” said Sharon.

…By Swabrinah Shaban

etty Sharon is one gem of a woman. Her struggle to help women and children has not been an easy task. Yet despite all ethnic differences and hard work, Sharon has been the guardian angel for many women in coast region. Due to economic hardship and expensive life style Sharon has been a God send especially for women in the remote rural areas of the Coast Province. Her numerous empowerment and developments programs changed the lives of these destitute women from worse to better.

Activism Standing tall with a strong aura of leadership, Sharon vividly recalls her struggle for women rights and against graft as she first made a debut on human right issues and activism in a bid to shape the lives of women and girls in rural Coast. “It was way back in 2003 when a friend invited me to attend a conference on Aids in Nairobi. About 4,000 women across the country were in attendance. Hotels were fully booked and yet many women from the Coast region, pregnant and some with small children were left to sleep in the cold. “I stood up for them and took the organisers to task for negligence and surprisingly they heeded my threats

Corruption Betty Sharon.

Picture: Swabrinah Shaban

and in a blink accommodation was provided”, said a proud Sharon. These women, according to Sharon, saw hope through her and soon after the conference they pleaded with me to join their organisation and champion for their rights.

Eager to start working and to streamline the office, I found myself on the receiving end again when I started a fight against graft which I was warned by my seniors to keep off. It was in 2004 when money for a women group amounting to KSh 50,000 vanished and I queried its whereabouts. I was warned. Since then, the board and other official

members will hold meetings and functions and would not be informed. The drive to start an organisation of my own was not there due to fear, but a local councillor approached me and encouraged me to start something as he has seen the potential in me and it was then I gathered courage and formed The Coast Women in Development (CWID). I had a dream and a vision and that is to change the lives of women and children. At first the road was smooth until all the women I was working with were influenced and left unceremoniously, living me alone to managed the organisation. “It was a trying time for me, depressed and with no team to work with, my heart and mind was in turmoil and I almost closed office but my conscience would not let me and I hang on,” said Sharon as she remembers. With no one to turn to, Sharon soldiered on and braved many storms. Eventually local women started to gain trust in her and slowly, they worked together and introduced different projects such as women economical empowerment, Gender Based violence, Girl child empowerment and women and youths in leadership which changed their lives. “I thank God. Through transpar-

ency we managed to get several donors including the Government and now, several women groups whom we are working with in the rural areas of Kilifi, Kaloleni, Kwale and Malindi have long term projects that can generate income, educate their children and put food on the table.

Trip abroad Talking about trips abroad, Sharon owes it all to donors and the women who have made her what she is today. “I cannot recall which continent I have not visited. The safaris have been educative and empowering and whenever I come back I have a new project for my groups. Currently, we are planning to start a project on goat rearing which I saw on my last trip to Bangkok. Asked about her time in politics, Sharon recalls the day she spent six days admitted at Aga-Khan Hospital in Mombasa after she suffered multiple injuries in the hands of the police during the post election violence protests over vote anomalies. “I have had my ups and down in politics as a human right activists during elections and referendum. I remember the 2005 referendum, I was adorned in orange and were in Embu. I was almost lynched and I had to travel back the same night,” says Sharon.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Empowerment: The African Woman in Development …By Grace Igandu

ince breaking away from the chains of colonialism, African nation-states have for years, struggled to reach the levels of industrialisation and development that have been achieved by the West. Much to the disappointment of African nationalists, this struggle has proved to be an uphill task. In fact, the international community has often described the continent as a “sleeping giant.” It is paramount for Africa’s full potential to be released and this can only be done by invoking the active participation of its people, in their own affairs. More importantly, the overall development of Africa is also pegged on the continent’s ability to empower women. For centuries, men — in the context of Africa’s patriarchal societies — have made crucial decisions affecting the progress of their families, communities and territories without involving women in the decision-making process. Leadership has been viewed in several cases as one of the roles that should be played by men while women are given ‘softer’ roles to play in society. Yet women play a large part in developing the continent. According to United Nations statistics, African women produce approximately 70 per cent of the continent’s food, even though they end up earning less than ten percent of its total income. This disproportional ratio not only keeps women from reaping the fruits of their labour but contributes to the suppression of Africa’s social capital. Women in Africa are yet to be fully included in the affairs of their countries and communities. Furthermore, their roles and contributions in nation-building are rarely recognised or celebrated.

Education By including women in the solving of developmental and economic issues, entire communities stand to benefit. Like the maxim indicates “when you educate a woman, you educate a nation”. When it comes to social spending, women are more inclined to use their resources for the benefit of their children, not just for themselves. Hence, by enhancing women’s participation in development, Africa as a whole can expect to rise up even faster. Kenya among other African countries has begun taking the much needed steps towards affirmative action. With the promulgation of a new Constitution in 2010, Kenya opened up more doors for women by according them their longawaited rights. Also, apart from being granted their rights, women now have greater leadership opportunities at the national and county levels. On the continental level, the African Union’s gender programme is designed to promote gender equality in the fields of trade, development, education, health, politics and conflict resolution. The regional body recognises that gender and development go hand in hand, therefore, structures its programmes around approaches that will enable both men and women to benefit equally. Hence, for women, it is their time not to eat but to actively participate in awakening the “sleeping giant” and in alleviating issues such as poverty, inequality and unemployment. Additionally, it is important to involve men in encouraging and accommodating the expanding roles of women today, which includes their participation in Africa’s decision-making and capacity-building.

It is not yet uhuru for the Kenyan woman

…By Karani Kelvin.

he euphoria that greeted the passing and promulgation of the (new) Constitution is one that can only be compared to the one that swept across the country on Independence Day. One can easily note the similarities between these two days that inevitably will continue to inspire us as well as dictate how we do business. These two days, almost five decades apart, symbolised the willingness of Kenyans to pull together for a common goal. Although December 12, 1963 marked a break from colonialism, the dust raised by jubilant Kenyans celebrating their hard earned freedom had not settled before Wanjiku started mourning the loss of everything she had fought for. History is awash with the disillusionment that drowned the hopes of Kenyans soon after gaining independence. While freedom was collectively fought for, only a few were seen as beneficiaries of the new dispensation. It is no wonder then that the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga would so well capture the disappointment that befell the people in the title of his book Not Yet Uhuru.

Arts Scanning the literary landscape, one can sense the palpitating anger of novelists, playwrights and poets at the betrayal of the masses. The Ngugis of this world so well represent the aspirations of the people that were stifled by a greedy lot of supposed leaders. It is this history that makes us reflect critically on the events after August 27, 2010. First, let us refresh our collective memory on the gender gains in the constitution. The biggest gain is Article 81 (b) which states that: “... Not more than two thirds of members of elective public bodies shall be of the same gender.” Although Article 81 (b) provides for the inclusion of all genders in public bodies, there is a lot of debate on whether it “can work”. The challenge to the aforementioned article is also a challenge to Article 197 (1) which states: “Not more than one-third of members of any county assembly or county executive committee shall be of the same Violence against women continues unabated as depicted in this picture taken in Nyalenda slums in Kisumu County recently. (File photo) gender.” There is no gainsaying that should these two articles remain as they are, the 2012 tice, Deputy Chief Justice and other members of cant dates to Kenyans. These two days capture General Election (keeping fingers crossed?) the result of a people forging together as one to will be the ultimate litmus test for the Constitu- the Supreme Court. The composition of the Supreme Court re- realise possibilities that their country has for tion with regard to gender. Kenyans will be keen to see how these provisions will be implemented sulting from a rigorous selection process was a them. Ironically, it is these two days that again capand how they will change the political fabric of matter of great contention. Women have asked whether the two women and five men the court ture the disappointment of Kenyans after failing our nation. Other equally important gains in the Consti- appointed meets the two-thirds gender rule. The to get what they thought clearly lay before them. tution for women include but are not limited to judges have already been sworn in after women We note how these dates mark a beginning of equality in marriage, right to land and property lost their case in court in what appears to be a separation between Kenyans, between the marginalised and those who eat directly from the inheritance and elimination of discriminatory precedent setting case. Other high ranking nominations of govern- national plate. laws, customs and practices. ment officials revolve around the office of the Attorney General, the Director of Public ProsecuThe tragedy with these dates is that soon after The question that now begs an answer a year tions office, the Auditor General’s office and the their excitement, the cold reality sets in. The realafter promulgation of the new laws is whether office of the Controller of Budget. Of these positions, women had come out ity is that the needy, the marginalised, those who there are any tangible benefits that have resulted clearly that in the interest of Affirmative Action, have been historically disadvantaged continue in from the letter and spirit of the Constitution. Can we point out to the changes in the lives they should get the Attorney General’s position. their damnation. These “wretched of the earth”, to borrow of the womenfolk of Kenya as a consequence of However, President Mwai Kibaki nominated Prof Githu Muigai for the same position. from Frantz Fanon, realise that beyond being put the enactment of the new laws? Kenyans are alive to the fact that Muigai’s on paper, the spirit of the day that should mark Is there an increase in the number of women accessing quality health services? Are more nomination, although said to have been in con- their exit from “bondage” is left to wander in the women being sucked into the job market? Is sultation with the Prime Minister, has not been desert of indifference. And that has been the sad story of Kenyan violence against women coming down? These, a result of a competitive process. This in effect among others, are pertinent questions we need locked out deserving women from the possibility women. Often times, right from independence, of being Kenya’s new Attorney General. Muigai their aspirations have been frustrated even after to ask for us to gauge our gains this far. a couple of legislations being enacted. It seems it Of course there are key landmark events that has since been sworn in and assumed office. We have pointed out that December 12, needs more than a constitution to transform the are important to the gender debate. One such event has been the nomination of the Chief Jus- 1963 and August 27, 2010 are equally signifi- socio-political landscape of this country.

Letter and spirit

Bondage

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Men told to abandon gender discrimination …By Ben Oroko

en from the Gusii community have been asked to go slow on conservative customary practices which perpetuate gender discrimination against women seeking political leadership. Prime Minister Raila Odinga challenged men to allow women to offer their contribution and enhance women’s representation in all political offices. He singled out gender stereotyping among various communities as one of the single most challenge facing women’s realisation to the true fruits of the new constitution. “The new constitution has opened opportunities for women to enhance their representation and participation in various offices political offices,” observed Odinga. He was speaking in Kisii town during a leaders’ consultative meeting. He assured women of the Government’s commitment to address constitution implementation challenges that stand on the way to the realisation women’s political and socio-economic empowerment. “The Government is keen in addressing various challenges as provided for in the new constitution that women voted for overwhelmingly in the last referendum,” stated Odinga. He called for intensified civic education among women and girls to enlighten them on opportunities provided in the new constitution for them to exploit such opportunities. Underscoring the role women played in the search and realisation of the new constitution, Odinga reminded women that their journey to equality and empowerment had just began and will reach its destination through successful implementation of the new law. Odinga’s sentiments were echoed by Josephine Ombati, a public officer to the County Council of Gusii, who challenged men from the community to open up a democratic space for women’s participation in political leadership. Ombati regretted that the Gusii community’s conservative patriarchal society has for many decades relegated women to the periphery in political

leadership and left them out of important decision making processes. Ombati observed that the promulgation of the new constitution signalled a new dawn for women in Kenya since it has increased women’s democratic space for both political and socio-economic participation through the Bill of Rights among other rights. “With promulgation of the new constitution many women from the Gusii community are now enjoying their rights after the new law lifted the yoke of conservative customary laws that have denied them various rights that have been provided for in the Bill of Rights,” observed Ombati.

“The Government is keen in addressing various challenges as provided for in the new constitution that women voted for overwhelmingly in the last referendum.” — Raila Amolo Odinga, Prime Minister, Kenya

Josephine Ombati. Pictures: Ben Oroko and Omwa Ombara

She challenged women from the community to acquaint themselves with their rights as provided for in the Bill of Rights, arguing majority of them voted for the new laws but are not aware of the rights and opportunities that the new law has for them. On political leadership, Ombati challenged women from the community not to be contented with the woman representative’s seat and instead come out in large numbers to contest all political seats provided for in the constitution. She said this would enhance women’s achievement of the one third of either gender representation in all political offices. “For women to achieve the required one third of either gender representation they must be given a fair chance and opportunity to articulate their visions for the electoral areas they wish to represent,” observed Ombati. She added: “They must also have free access to the electorate and must be assured of their security during campaigns for them to make a meaningful political impact.” Ombati who is eyeing one of the political seats which she is yet to disclose said the Gusii region being a patriarchal dominated society, women aspiring for political offices have always encountered resistance and political violence. She challenged the security agencies to redirect their attention towards assuring aspiring women politicians of their security during electioneering period to their women participation in political leadership. “I am challenging male politicians who feel threatened by women’s entry and participation in competitive politics to consider doing themselves and our society proud by engaging women political aspirants in brain power campaign strategies as opposed to violence that prevents them from challenging political contests,” Ombati observed.

With one packet of unga headstart, today Mahamri mama sustains her family …By Elizabeth Awuor

f Fatuma Juma had realised her dream of becoming a doctor, many of her customers who rely on the Mahamri she makes every morning would probably be buying from other sellers. However her inability to continue with her education now makes her a specialist in making Coast’s favourite breakfast snack mahamri and not a health specialist. Fatuma started making mahamri eight years ago after realising that the job she was doing at an EPZ in Miritini area of Mombasa was not paying her enough to meet her needs and that of her three children. And after eight years of employment in the EPZ she quit for mahamri making. “ I thought of starting my own business after realising that I spent more time at work but did not earn enough money to sustain me and my family”, she says. Her husband is a casual labourer in one of the companies within Miritini area but his income is not enough to sustain the whole family thus the need to supplement it. Apart from the need for money,

Fatuma also wanted to keep indicated that she had put herself busy and to become the past behind her and was her own boss. focused on building a bet“I find the idea of managter future especially for her ing myself a good one since if daughter’s. I don’t work hard I lose out, Her three teenage daughso that makes me to be keen ters are in school and Fatuma’s and focused on my small busiincome from mahamri enness,” she explains. ables her to meet their specific Fatuma feels comfortable girl’s needs such us clothes, that she is able to make her school uniforms, sanitary own money but remains untowels and hospital fees in happy at the fact that she did case they fall sick. not complete schooling. Having started her busiShe says she dropped out ness with one kilogram packet in Form Two after her faof wheat flour, Fatuma gives a ther a retired primary school strong message to women who teacher told her that there sit waiting for someone to come was no money to pay for her to their rescue that one can start school fees. a small business using very little She adds that apart from income and skills either gained lack of money, her father did in school or from other sources not see the importance of like the community. educating a girl and concen“I did not go to school to trated on the boy’s education. learn how to cook mahamri Fatuma Juma holds her mahamri at Miritini, Her mother who had sepbut learnt from my mother, Mombasa. Picture: Elizabeth Awuor arated from their father and women have a variety of rich gotten married in the neighskills that they can use to genbourhood could not help eierate income”, she says. rimonial home but she also claimed ther. She adds that women should not to have enough money to cater “I completely gave up continu- for my education,” says Fatuma. join merry-go-round groups revealing my education after seeking my All through the interview with ing that her fist capital was obtained mother’s assistance in her other mat- Fatuma, she maintained a smile that through merry-go-round.

Gender balance can work, says Mbarire

…Kariuki Mwangi.

unyenjes Member of Parliament Cecily Mbarire has called upon the Government not to deny the women in the country their constitutional right of onethird representation in parliament. Mbarire said that instead of the Cabinet dismissing the legislation in the Constitution it should weigh other formulae of implementing it so that women should not feel short-changed in the governance of the country. The Tourism assistant minister pointed out that it would be unconstitutional if the next parliament starts its official proceedings without the stipulated one-third representations of women. She said that the Government should work out on a formula of operationalising the stipulated legislation so as to avoid a last minute rush as the country gears towards the next general election. The Runyenjes MP who was speaking during a thanksgiving ceremony at St Thomas Anglican Church in Kanja, Runyenjes said that it is true that the current stipulation is not practical noting that there are other avenues that can be pursued to implement the legislation.

Undemocratic “It would be undemocratic for us to impose the Constituencies that must elect a woman Member of Parliament since it is the democratic right of every Kenyan to elect the leaders of their choice.” She said. She said that the best way is to come up with a formula that will not deny the women their constitutional right and also not deny the various constituents their democratic rights to elect the leaders of their choice. Mbarire said that the women parliamentarians are working on a legislation that will foresee the amendment of the section on women representatives from each county and create another slot. She said that the amendment will create two slots for women representatives in the counties who sit in parliament and thus there will be the required onethird representations of women in parliament. “We are planning to take an amendment to parliament to increase the slot of women representatives to two, but we fear our men counterparts may bring an amendment to the amendment and repeal the 30 per cent representation since we don’t have the numbers,” she posed. She noted that the proposed formula is practical to implement the requirements saying that what is needed is political goodwill and not denying the women their right to representation.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Great dreams for Mijikenda girl child

…By Omwa Ombara and Swabrinah Shaaban

magine if the only options your daughter had in life was to choose between getting married at nine years to an elderly man with three wives or becoming a house girl. But even as a house girl, she more often than not ends up getting raped by her employer or other male relatives? Coming from a humble background, Mary Andrew Kopulo had great dreams for the girl child especially from the Mijikenda community. Their lack of education, turning to house-help as a career of choice and early marriages was a culture that she detested and vowed to change.

Mnazi Rich men from Mombasa would approach poor and desperate families with enticing gifts as dowry for the little girls. A rich man would take a little girl’s father to drink mnazi after which the father would pull out the girl from school and marry her off. At times the mother of the girl child would be enticed with a mere leso and the future of the girl would be compromised. Top left: Talented Mercy These practices remain rampant Muchai sings at the Vilwakwe among the Mijikenda. Centre. Most Mijikenda And true to her dream, Kopulo has girls are married off early. been a guiding angel to many school Right: Mary Andrew Kopulo, going girls at the sprawling Moroti founder, Vilwakwe. Below: village in Bombolulu along the MomEnthusiastic children in the basa/Malindi road. Baby Class. Though her motives have been Pictures: Swabrinah Shaban good, still she faces great challenges of culture, taboos and traditions from her community who remain careless over girl child education. “Getting a Mijikenda girl child to go to tal of eight classrooms and school from an environment where culture eight trained teachers. Despite all the fights, it and traditions are still held in high esteem, is has not been an easy road a milestone,” says Kopulo for her, especially to eduHowever, nothing has deterred her from cate the girl child. realising her dream. With great determination According to Kopulo, in 2006 came the birth of Vilwakwe Children’s parents use their daughters Centre and school. to source for food and cater Single handedly, she successful kicked off for their other siblings, thus the project with a total of seven girls age beattending school for them is tween three and ten years in a makeshift church a riddle. that was donated by a community church in the “It has been quite a chalvillage. lenge to convince parents To entice the community into accepting her to allow their daughters to parents pay while others do not pay at all,” she dream, a feeding program was started to assure get education. And if you insist they arrogantly said. parents that their children will at the same time abandon her to your care and shun her from However this year has been a blessing to the be fed and educated as well. Little did she know that such goodies would the rest of the family,” she explained to Kenyan- center, thanks to a visit by the US Ambassador Scott Gration that saw a great renovation of the not only be a major attraction to the community Woman during the interview. Early marriage has also been a big night- school. and by 2007 only 33 pupils were in attendance at mare among the Mijikenda community. Not the school. more than once, Kopulo has tried to stop girls from being married at a tender age, thus cre“USAID had earlier given us a grant of 60,000 to renovate the school; it was not enough “To me, it was a great achievement. I needed ating enmity with parents and village elders. “Every year, there is case of early marriages; since we only managed few classrooms. But to be patient and I knew with time they would allow their children to attend school,” she re- I have tried to talk to the area chief in vain. What when the Ambassador came to hand over the will a girl of 13-14 years do in marriage?”She “new school” and saw other classroom were calls. really in bad shape and needed repair, he comBut as the number increased, the land- poses sadly. missioned a renovation of the whole school,” lords were displeased and cautioned her on she says. health hazards for fear of disease break-out as The sky is the limit for Kopulo as she hopes Unlike the big time centers, Vilwakwe is the makeshift school had no washrooms. “The following day I woke up onto a rude one humble centre that barely get donor fund- to buy a bigger parcel of land and put up pershock. A huge padlock was stationed on the ing. For years it has been running without manent structure for the centre in future. Currently the school has no playing ground door. I was heartbroken. I felt my dream had funds only with a few notes that able parents and is forced to cough KSh50 to hire a ground been shattered into pieces,” says Kopulo as she pay as school fees. “We charge an admission fee of KSh100 daily for Physical Education lessons. vividly recalls that fateful day. The Centre was recently renovated through With a little savings, she managed to secure and monthly and KSh300, which very few a plot measuring 50metres by 100metres and put up temporary classrooms. It was at this juncture that I went out of my away to make the centre more presentable and comfortable “It has been quite a challenge to convince parents to allow to my pupils. their daughters to get education. And if you insist they “That when the school was baptised to Vilwakwe Primary and Nursery school. Curarrogantly abandon her to your care and shun her from the rently I have a total of 380 pupils with girls standing at 176 and boys 212”, she proudly rest of the family.” lament. — Mary Andrew Kopulo The school has up to Class Six with a to-

Grant

Hazards

Funding

the Vilwakwe children centre community and (EMACK) an initiative of the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) made possible through the USAID. It was officially opened in September 2011, by the US Ambassador to Kenya. The school that caters for the needy and poor pupils was on the verge of collapsing after failure by the community to sustain it. The school operates on voluntary funding from different well wishers and still has so many uncompleted projects such as access to clean drinking water as the only tank available is used for both drinking and lavatory activities.

Renovation This is not so hygienic but we are handicapped on monetary issues, but we hope soon we will be able to get support from our well wishers to set up a different tank for drinking and cooking, narrates Mary Kopulo, the head of the school. She thanks the USAID for its funding of the school renovation at KSh360, 000. The school has nurtured different talented pupils but amongst them all is a Standard Three girl who is a gospel artiste. Mercy Muchai is only nine years old but has released a Gospel CD with several tracks. She confided to us that she would like to pursue music as her future career as a way of glorifying the Lord for being so good and dear to her.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Youthful politician aspires to unseat Ruto …By Faith Muiruri

innie Maru is venturing into elective politics for the first time. However, she has a high mountain to climb as she will be competing against the incumbent Eldoret North MP William Ruto. Maru knows that Ruto enjoys an almost fanatical following in his political backyard. In fact, she is aware that Ruto has managed to cut a niche for himself as the point man for the Kalenjin community. However, Maru’s political prospects are largely depended on whether the incumbent MP will forge ahead in his bid for the presidency as this will automatically block him from running for other elective positions as outlined in the Elections Act 2011. However, the tide could change in her favour if the embattled Eldoret North MP is vindicated by the International Criminal Court (ICC) process where he is facing charges on crimes against humanity.

Drive Maru is also banking on the additional 80 new constituencies to be created once the Independent Electoral and Boundary Commission (IEBC) is in place. Eldoret North which has a population of 391,655 is slated to get an additional constituency if recommendations by the disbanded Interim Independent Boundary Review Commission (IIBRC) led by Andrew Ligale are adopted. Maru’s entry into the political

arena is driven by a strong belief that she can influence decisions in favour of young women whose voice is missing in major decision making. “Young women aged between 18 and 40 years account for a significant percentage of votes in this country but there is a huge gap in terms of representation in decision making processes,” observes Maru. She adds: “This is mainly because they have not been mentored to take up leadership positions. However, time has come for them to demand their rightful share in the public sphere.”

Mentorship The 36 year old aspirant who is also the Director of Tembea Tours and Travel, says the next elections presents a new phase in Kenyan politics and young women cannot afford to take a back seat. “It is bad enough that patriarchy has consigned us to the periphery but we must unite in sending the old guards home and increasing our representation in the next elections,” observed Maru during an interview with the Kenyan women. The energetic and outspoken aspirant is also banking on the youth vote. Currently she is planning to host a forum for youth empowerment which will not only solidify her political support but also strengthen the capacity of young people to compete effectively for leadership positions. She says that the next election represents a fresh start and a new phase for the youth of Kenya who live through its goodness and challenges. “The youth must reject attempts

by the old guard to cling onto power and take up elective positions to help shape the framework for their empowerment,” urges Maru who is a former assistant manager with the Postal Corporation. She is also part of the Forum for Young Women Politicians, which is a networking platform for young women under 40 years who seek to run for political and public office in Kenya. Her agenda includes harnessing the hidden potential in the energy sector. Maru says that she will push for the adoption of alternative sources of energy through the production of solar energy which will help create a conducive environment for investment. She says that the current power tariffs were prohibitive and unaffordable to a majority of Kenyans who relied on kerosene that is now too costly and out of reach for many. According to Maru Kenya should explore the possibility of coming up with alternative sources of fuel and stop enriching oil producing countries. She says that Kenya also needs to tap on the great potential in bio fuels to help cushion the ordinary person from the ever rising cost of fuel. Maru has great affinity for the environment. She plans to mobilise all registered youth groups in the country in reclaiming the depleted forest cover. “We have about 40,000 registered youth groups in the country which if utilised can help plant about 40 million trees. However, our priorities are misplaced and we accord so much at-

“The youth must reject attempts by the old guard to cling onto power and take up elective positions to help shape the framework for their empowerment.” — Winnie Maru tention to issues which have less impact in our lives,” she reiterates. She is emphatic that proper conservation efforts will help restore the environment and play a crucial role in addressing perennial food shortages currently facing the country. “It is one thing to set aside funds to build dams when no efforts are being made to restore our forest cover,” she reiterates. Maru notes that parts of Rift Val-

ley such as Turkana are experiencing food shortages when the same food is going to waste in the highland areas. “We need to come up with clear strategies on food distribution mechanisms to avert calamities which are being experienced in most parts of the country. Maru says archaic laws which still govern the agricultural sector of this country need to be revised to allow farmers to sell their produce without restrictions which end up inhibiting distribution. “For instance, farmers in Uasin Gishu District cannot sell their produce beyond Eldoret but they are required to sell their surplus produce to the National Cereals and Produce Board at a throw away price,” she observes adding that such provisions are archaic and meant to deny farmers earnings. Maru calls measures to be put in place that allow for even distribution of resources and opportunities in a manner that will result in improved livelihood for all Kenyans especially the marginalised communities. She is committed to equity and social reform. Maru plans to lobby for implementation of policies and priorities that provide a strong platform for economic empowerment of the youth and women. Currently majority of youth in her constituency are unable to access the youth fund. She plans to push for the removal of inhibitive conditions that frustrate their access to the fund. However, it remains to be seen how much support she will be able to amass ahead of the elections.

Butere woman determined to lead

…By Paul Olale

lice Eshitubi Welinga, is aspiring to be the women’s representative for Butere Constituency, come the next General Elections. “It is not a farfetched idea or an empty thirst for power because I have been a leader most of my life,” declared the 48-year-old politician who is also a social activist. Welinga has led several leadership positions including being the chairperson Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) Butere township location. Welinga believes she has what it takes to hold a higher office. Prior to that, she was elected five times the Western Diocesan Youth Leader (female), for Church of Christ in Africa from 1988 to 1998.

prosecution of rights violations and abuses in court. Welinga has also mobilised women to form groups, through which they are able to access loans. Through her efforts, many women have abandoned laxity and alcoholism and now lead productive lives.

Alice Eshitubi Welinga (Far right), counsels a client at her office in Butere. Her passion is to ensure justice for women and children. Pictures: Paul Olale

Passion Welinga also holds leadership positions in various committees in schools, community development projects and faith based organisations. “My passion is to empower women, children and youth to know and to get their rights,” she says. Welinga uses public meetings and seminars to champion for these rights and is already a household name. She has also used the media for the same, by tipping local news personnel or calling media houses directly. Since 2006 she has been Mulembe FM’s agent in Butere District. On the same line, Kenya Alliance for Advancement of Children’s Rights (KAACR) appointed her a whistle blower for violation of children’s rights. She has also pushed for

Welinga uses public meetings and seminars to champion for these rights and is already a household name. She has also used the media for the same, by tipping local news personnel or calling media houses directly.

Her guidance and counselling skills has also helped in resolving family disputes. According to Welinga: “Because HIV/Aids is a threat to development and survival, I have led some couples to go for VCT.” Welinga has been trained by Tiens International in health foods and medicines. “Because health is wealth, I also promote healthy eating and sell herbal medicine which is also food,” she said. Her office in Butere town is one-stop-shop for diverse services, community development issues, information, dispute resolution, empowerment and mentorship as well as guidance and counselling, trainings and source of herbal medicine. Apart from natural leadership qualities, Welinga has undergone trainings to support

these. After secondary education in 1981, she did courses in nursing, secretarial as well as Christian leadership, evangelism and discipleship, guidance and counselling, population health and environment. She worked with St John’s Ambulance as a nursing officer, before joining church leadership and activities. Welinga is married with three sons and one daughter. If elected women’s representative for Butere Constituency, she aims to use the position to ensure woman and children get justice in case their rights are violated. She will also empower women to know their rights and on what action to take in case of violation. “I will also help raise funds for education of bright needy girls because currently many fathers in my area still place higher value in the education of the boy child,” she observes.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Ready to convert her education into community service recognise politicians as the only leaders by looking at their wealth. However, Nyawalo says a time has come that politics should be built on development agendas and not personality. She, therefore, urges women to bring together the available resources for the good of the community. “If we all stand alone, we’ll never make it. We should, therefore, forge the unity of purpose,” she reiterates.

…By Omondi Gwengi

omen have been given a chance by the new Constitution and if they fail the next generation will blame them. These are the words of Dr Phoebe Nyawalo who is eyeing women’s representation in Siaya County. With a background in peace keeping and community service, Nyawalo believes that it can be done. “I have worked in many post conflict countries in order to bring peace and community service has been my part of orientation,” she explains. Nyawalo was inspired by the values that women added in reconstructing their communities after conflict. “Women have to bring peace into the politics of this nation with the new law,” she says. Armed with a PhD in Education Sciences (Language Education), Nyawalo says that it’s as good as nothing if education cannot be converted to useful community work.

Community work “We need to convert our education into useful community work for the benefit of our nation,” she says. Nyawalo says that the reception of her ambition at the grassroots level is quite promising as majority of the women see a hopeful future with the new constitution. She adds that it is possible for women to change the structures of this country if they work collectively. “It’s hard to find men’s groups. We only have women’s groups and this, therefore, gives women a greater opportunity to translate this into leadership of this nation,” urges Nyawalo. According to a recent forum on the challenges of leadership in Bondo, it was noted that many people

Focus Nyawalo’s focus is on education, food security, health and governance. As an educationist, she says, early childhood education forms the foundation of education and should, therefore, be given much attention. “Early childhood education has always been neglected yet this is the backbone of education,” observes Nyawalo. She says that there are churches which can be used as early childhood learning institutions. She also says that the elderly should also be academically empowered for the well being of our societies. “There are potential women leaders in our churches, but they have been confined making it impossible for them to realise the talents they have,” says Nyawalo. She adds that every woman has something positive to contribute to the society and there is need to bring together all the talents. However, she is opposed token representation which has Picture: Omondi Gwengi been rampant among politicians and political parties. “Women “It’s hard to find men’s groups. We only have who are hand-picked will hold women’s groups and this, therefore, gives women allegiance to pick them and not their fellow women whom they a greater opportunity to translate this into are supposed to represent,” warns Nyawalo. leadership of this nation.” With youths forming the larg— Dr Phoebe Nyawalo est population in this country,

Papua New Guinea Government push for women’s Equality Bill …By Online Editor

he much awaited Equality and Participation Bill will be tabled in Papua New Guinea’s parliament today. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said the reserved seats bill was a priority agenda item of government. He told a National Council of Women gathering at the Sir John Guise Stadium in Port Moresby that it was imperative the reserved seats bill was presented in parliament for debate and voted on as soon as possible. O’Neill said the participation of women in parliament was an important issue that had remained outstanding. “Since coming into office, our go¬vernment has seen this as an important outstanding issue. That is why we are recalling parliament to seriously commence the process of legislating to include women as equal partners in the highest decision-making arena.” Women had been pressing the

go¬vernment to reserve 25 seats for women in the Papua New Guinea parliament. O’Neill said his government was prepared to make women’s representation in parliament a reality. Participation of women in the PNG parliament was low compared to other nations in the Pacific, he said. “There is only one woman MP, which means that our statistics of female participation is 0.9 percent, a shocking indicator, clearly contradicting our Constitution and the various government development goals,” he said. “We are rated as 136 out of 144 countries for having less than 1 percent of women in parliament. “This is a shocking indication of our lack of real action to the commitments we have stated to our people in the Constitution and various development goals. — Courtesy of Women’s United Nations Report Network.

Nyawalo says that they are always misused by politicians for selfish gains. “These youths are our own sons and daughters and as women, we shouldn’t use them to cause violence,” pleads Nyawalo. She adds: “Let women’s politics be free from violence.” However, Nyawalo is not happy about the issue of substance abuse among the youths which she says is the enemy of prosperity. “Our children engage in substance abuse which is being brewed by their mothers and it is sad to destroy your own blood. We need to engage women and youth in more developmental activities,” she urges. “We are also strategising on ways of stopping any form of violence against women,” she reiterates. Widowed at 28, Nyawalo says it is not easy to make it especially in a community where culture and traditions bar you from certain things. Therefore, she says, women’s representatives should put some consideration on the widows.

Widows “Widows are never prepared psychologically and this, therefore, makes it unprepared to cope with the challenges of widowhood,” she says. “Many women fall prey to wife inheritance just because of poverty and ignorance on their rights. Women representatives should empower widows which will in turn develop our communities,” she adds. According to Nyawalo a lot needs to be done in terms of sensitising women and youths on the Constitution. “We need to have workshops at location levels to sensitise women and youths on the Constitution and to also do a follow up of the same,” she says.

Women come out guns blazing in Kilifi …By Yusuf Amin

ith guaranteed leadership opportunities in the new constitution it is now clear that men will have a rough time in vying for elective positions as many women have come out and declared their interest in contesting various seats in the upcoming general elections. In Kilifi County women leaders have launched their political campaigns using the collapsed industries as their tools. They argue that if the industries were revived and job opportunities created local people could be employed. They, observe, this would curb poverty that has been looming in the region. Generally, women leaders who have been in the forefront in their campaigns’ blame male leadership that has been intimidating to women aspiring candidates. They accuse them of failure to improve infrastructures like medical facilities and roads among oth-

ers, a factor that has led the region to lag behind in development. Patience Chome who recently launched her campaigns for the Senator’s seat notes with concern that despite the County having many resources that can be utilized properly in improving the lives of the locals, this was not the case. Addressing the residents of Kaloleni Constituency, Chome said collapsed Kenya Cashewnut Factory needs to be revived as it is an income generating project. She said: “Under women’s leadership, available resources will be properly utilised because women are not corrupt and ensure that various sectors like agriculture are developed further.” Chome further promised to invest in agriculture by introducing alternative methods of farming like irrigation in dry areas like Ganze and Magarini where rainfall is scarce. She called on all women leaders in the Province to join hands and come up with consultative forums to find a lasting solution aimed at

protecting the women’s right to own land. At a separate public meeting at Ziani in Chonyi Division in Bahari Constituency, the former Culture and Social Services Permanent Secretary Rachael Dzombo launched her campaign for the Kilifi South parliamentary seat with a call to women and youth to take part in fighting for leadership positions enshrined in the new constitution. “I challenge the youth to come out in large numbers and register as voters to enable then elect leaders who will fight for their rights and resolve problems facing Coast residents,” Dzombo urged She criticised women who do not support those seeking elective positions and asked them to support each other in the 2012 elections. Dzombo said: “Women have many votes which can really change the leadership of this country especially in Kilifi County where land is arable and can be used in agricultural production to fight poverty and end the habit of relying on relief food every year.”

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Sophy Rana puts Ogiek on the world map …By Samwel Kipsang

alk of any forum that discusses or collates views on women’s empowerment, poverty eradication, human rights, constitutional forums and legislation drafting process, you will find that she has made a contribution. Sophy Tanki Rana will go the extra mile to have the Ogiek recognised as an independent indigenous people’s group. She says soon they are launching a file of the true Ogiek people. “In the recent verification exercise to establish true Ogiek in Mau, we discovered about 6,000 people who do not belong to the community have registered themselves as the Ogiek,” explains Rana. She notes that approximate number of real Ogiek in Kenya is about 30,000.

Excited One year since the promulgation of the Constitution, the Ogiek are excited about the new law. What may be challenging to them is trying to understand issues to do with schedule for the various parliamentary legislations that will enable implementation of the constitution. In relation to the Constitution and specifically the Land chapter, the Ogiek understand that daughters are suppose inherit land but this is still strange to both men and women except the Ogiek elites who understand and appreciate that fact. Rana from Sogoo, Narok South is a recognised women’s leader of all Ogiek living in Narok, Mt Elgon, Uasin Gishu, Tinderet and Marishoni in Njoro. Despite the fact that parliamentary legislation promoting representation of indigenous people is not yet in place because it has to be done within a five-year period, the Ogiek people from all Ogiek settlement regions of Kenya are already fronting her to be their representative in the Senate. Her reaction to this encouragement is that she will first seek her father’s and brothers’ opinion and blessing and if they support the nomination, she will go for it. Being educated among a community that many people view as backward, Rana has enjoyed a position of leadership because she has been at the forefront in fighting for the rights of the Ogiek. Rana holds a P1 Certificate and a Diploma in Special Education. She was the deputy head teacher of Naisudori Primary School in Nkaroni Sub-location, Sogoo Location, Narok South District from 2000 to 2009 when she moved to Ole Ntutu Arid Zone Boarding Primary School because of family reasons. Despite this her thirst for education is not satiated and she plans to enrol for a Bachelor of Education in Sociology. What annoys Rana most are reports in some sections of the media that the Ogiek are un-schooled. “The community has very many degree holders today,” she says. We even have Professor Sena who many people do not know is an Ogiek. There are many more Ogiek doing Masters degrees while some have proceeded to study for their doctorates.

Top picture: The Ogiek at a workshop in Naivasha. Sophy Tanki Rana (second from left) is a recognised women’s leader of all Ogiek living in Narok, Mt Elgon, Uasin Gishu, Tinderet and Marishoni in Njoro. Picture: Samuel Kipsang

back to girls attaining education. She says that the ritual destroys girls’ desire to go back to school since after the rite they consider themselves adults who cannot go back to school. “The girls end up thinking about so many things which have no relations to education,” she notes. Rana regrets that FGM is still rampant in the community, but on prevalence some major Ogiek family groups practice it more than the

Bursaries

Empowerment She plans to have her organisation Women Empowerment Programme mapped in all these areas to establish networks for empowerment. The CBO focuses on education of the girl child, eradication of Female Genital Mutilation as well as HIV/Aids prevention and care. Cultural discriminations against the girl child in education are also evident among the Ogiek. Rana says that when a boy and girl in an Ogiek family are selected to join high school, most Ogiek families will pick the boy and leave the girl at home. The girls who are still young become family servants until they get married, a situation that they hardly survive. “Most of these girls end up being chased back to their parents because their husbands are young, unprepared and irresponsible,” she observes. Rana also blames FGM for being a draw-

others. She notes a major family where despite having many educated members still consider FGM a must. She says that the situation is worsened by some members of the Kipsigis community living among them who have their old wives circumcised after living with them for many years. “The Ogiek say it is better to circumcise now when they are still young than to wait and circumcise them when they are old.” In being a community leader, Rana can be found holding fort in many organisations and at different capacities. She is a member of the Ogiek Council of Elders working with Interim Coordinating Secretariat on Mau restoration and a board member of the Ogiek Development Organisation. She is also the chairperson of a community based organisation, Ogiek Women Empowerment Programme.

Picture: Samuel Kipsang

“The Ogiek say it is better to circumcise now when they are still young than to wait and circumcise them when they are old.” — Sophy Tanki Rana

Rana regrets that Ogiek children are not getting bursaries because the community are a minority. She defines minority as a group of people with few or no representation in the governing structure. She cites lack of Ogiek representative in CDF committees. Rana feels that awareness should be created so that NGOs, government and other donor institutions can come to their aid. Rana regrets that HIV/Aids prevalence is rising fast because of ignorance, idleness and rampant use of alcohol among other substances. Her Organisation has been raising awareness in churches and schools among other forums. Rana notes that they will get financing from National Aids Control Council through constituency aid committee to raise awareness on HIV/Aids prevention and care. “Our emphasis will be on prevention from further infection.” The Ogiek Women Empowerment Organisation has also been focusing on creating awareness and being proactive in environment and cultural sustainability. Rana advices that people

should exploit their environment in a sustainable manner. “This means planting more trees to replace the ones that have been used, and sustaining rich biodiversity especially on medicinal plants and wildlife,” she says. She proposes that many environmental conservation practices should incorporate indigenous knowledge on conservation. When asked how the Ogiek can conserve and sustain its culture, she says efforts should be made to preserve their traditional dress made from Hyrax skin and other material objects, document the Ogiek language dialect in an Ogiek Museum that is set to be started by the community. The CBO is looking for funds that will enable it implement this. “Ogiek council of elders can also be at the forefront on this since environmental and cultural sustainability are unique aspects that give Ogiek its uniqueness as an indigenous people group,” explains Rana. The Ogiek Women’s Empowerment Programme hopes to eradicate poverty through agriculture. Rana says they will start with poultry keeping and kitchen gardening where they will emphasise on cultivation of traditional vegetables. Rana has attended many local and international meetings where she has actively participated in African Women Indigenous Organisation forum that included women from Rwanda, Burundi, Southern Sudan, South Africa, Kenya, and Tanzania. This took place at the Panafric Hotel in 1999. She is part of the Ogiek Council of Elders and Interim Coordinating Secretariat (ICS) on restoration of Mau Forest. She has joined in meetings organised by the National Cohesion and Integration Forum at KICC. She was also part of the Civil Society Organisations Forum collating views on Public Benefit Organisations draft bill. Rana also joined Action Aid capacity building on the promulgated constitution and a meeting of Consortium for Empowerment and Development of Marginalised Communities dealing with devolved government.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Wills might enhance women’s right to own property

…By Elizabeth Awuor

ramatic scenes have in the past characterised distribution of property including land whenever a man dies and leaves an estate behind. In most of these cases, would be female beneficiaries get short changed and left out of the distribution procedure. But if more people adopt it, will leaving could safeguard the rights of women and girls who have the rights to benefit from property. Section 40 of the Constitution promises the right to own property to every person, while section 60 ensures equitable access to land and security of land rights. These new constitutional guarantees on right to property ownership sound good to the ears of women but for those who do not acquire property on their own, their husbands and fathers can only help them by leaving a will and including them in the inheritance list . Take the case of Everlyne Akinyi who lost her husband in 2003 and her brother in-law stripped her off all the property they had including household goods such as the television set and refrigerator. She watched helplessly as the man and his aides carried business property leaving her with no income to assist her and her two children. Apart from taking away what the brother in-law claimed was his brother’s, he injured her reputation by maliciously spreading ill information about Akinyi. Akinyi had to run to her relatives who were accommodative but could not help her much because when her parents passed on in 1995 none of them left a will and so it was not clear to her being a girl what she could inherit. Their only brother is so far recognised as the heir to the property including the piece of land where her parents’ house stand, several farms, and domestic animals. Today the 33-year-old mother is educating her children through her

businesses at the Kisumu office and from well wishers. She says if the two important men in her life (father and husband) would have left a will, then she would have not gone through what she has in the past years. Her case is similar to that of Pamela Ouru who is fighting to see her children inherit what belonged to their father. The mother of two fears that even the piece of land she bought jointly with her husband might be taken away from her. Ouru’s husband died last year but during that period they were separated as a result of what she says was constant beating from her husband Since the burial of her husband, she has already lost two private motor vehicles and a number of livestock that they jointly bought. She blames herself for letting her husband register most of the properties they acquired together in his name and also for not reaching the hospital in time when her husband called her at his death bed.

Bitter “Maybe he wanted to leave a will but since I was bitter with him following our separation and the beatings he had given me in the nineteen years I was married to him, I failed to heed to his call”, she adds The number of Kenyans who have written wills is very low and those who even give a verbal one are few. According to a Mombasa based Lawyer Mr Charles Opulu, several factors among them cultural beliefs and psychology play a role in the disinterest in property allocation. For instance, some customary laws demand that a woman cannot inherit land and other property and that a male relative of the deceased should step in to oversee the management of the properties. These overseers in most cases end up taking everything for themselves and some even go to the extent of throwing the widow and her children out of their home. He says leaving of a will is person-

Pictures: Elizabeth Awuor

Everlyne Akinyi al choice for those who have property and wishes the property to be disposed off when he dies. Opulu explains that after a man’s demise property becomes an estate that has to be taken care of and the procedure requires that the liabilities such as funeral expenses and debts are taken care of first, then the residue of the estate becomes subject to distribution amongst the heirs - beneficiaries or successors. Beneficiaries may include anyone entitled to the property while heir inherits the property due to blood relationship or adoption. He states that there exist two types of wills; the oral and spoken. The oral will should be done in the presence of witnesses that can attest to the will. One can decide to call family members and orally leave a will and assign one family member the responsibility of overseeing the disposal of his property as he wishes after his death. In most cases the persons left with this responsibilities are first born children. Elizabeth Mjenimi, a widow in Kubo Shimba Hills, is one of the people who today appreciate the fact that her husband left an oral will. Mjeni lost her husband in 2007

Pictures: Elizabeth Awuor

Mwanahamisi Bakari’s and was able to thwart her in-laws’ attempts to take away her husband’s properties. They had rushed to obtain burial permit without consulting her and that alarmed her that they might have been planning to see her out of the whole process. “They wanted to bury my husband the following day but I rushed to the hospital and identified myself as the wife and I was given the burial permit,” recalls Mjeni. She says before his death, her husband had called a family meeting and stated to her how she would distribute the family land to her children with the help of the first born son. Elizabeth is happy that her husband included their three daughters as beneficiaries of the six-acre land that was left behind. The written will on the other hand has got conditions attached to them and must have an executor since it is a document. Opulu says if the will stipulates that the girl child be allocated a piece of land or some property then it should remain so and that this could enhance the chances of women to own property and land. He however says there are challenges with the Islamic Law which

has its own defined way on how property should be distributed after a person’s death. The religion has provided for its own succession where only one-third of the property goes to the widow.

Unfair “I view the law to be very unfair because if a man worked so hard and had only two daughters then the daughters can only inherit a third and the male next of kin takes away the rest,” states Opulu. He adds that a Muslim male can decide to write a will and this automatically removes him from the religious part of succession and brings him to the part of Common Law. “If a man wants his wife and daughters to benefit then he should write a will and the Common Law will allow them to inherit,” he explains. Mwanahamisi Bakari’s husband died in 2003 but she did not wait to inherit the one-third after her husband’s death, she instead left the house which was the only property that her husband left for her older children. “I had built a house in my parental home and since what my husband left was not much, I left my seven children who are old enough to share it amongst themselves,” she adds.

Young women in Mombasa take their reproductive health seriously …By Elizabeth Awuor

t the age of 19, Linnet Njoroge is the mother of a four-month-old boy and she wants to plan her family through the use of contraceptives. Linnet had never used contraceptives before but has heard about types of contraceptives and some side effects from friends and the media. As she waits to be attended at the Coast Provincial General Hospital (CPGH), Linnet has already made up her mind that she wants to try injectable contraceptives first. She is however quick to add that she will take any advice given to her by the service provider in the Family Planning Section on what method would be best for her considering the fact that her blood pressure is not normal all the time. Linnet just like other young mothers is not very green to the contraceptives world having heard a thing or two about them from the media and friends. The Church and Campaigns in the media can take credit in educating and informing women about female reproductive health and more specifically the use of contraceptives. Mothers’ are no longer shy of

going for contraceptives including those as young as 19 years. According to Susan Mbunda a service provider in the family planning section at the hospital, more youths are now aware of contraceptive use. She says most of the women who visit the hospital have knowledge of types of contraceptives and some come with set minds of the method they want to adopt. Mbunda says the highest number of women who visit the family planning section fall between 19 and 40 years of age. However there are countable cases of girls under the age of 18 who are brought for family planning by their mother’s. “Adolescent mothers are brought in by their mother’s after they have had babies and their parents fear they might conceive again”, says Mbunda. Injectables are the most preferred method of family planning within the region while condoms and natural methods such as abstinence and withdrawal come last. Mbunda says that most young women within Mombasa and its environs are more informed about contraceptives use but the staff in her department still educates clients who come for contraceptives so that they

can make informed choices. Pills and Internal Uterine devices take the second and third positions respectively in terms of preference by women. “Women are more aware of observing reproductive health measures and most of them come to us for further advice when they want reassurance or when the side effects are severe”, explains Mbunda. Mbunda says the number of women who want to be checked for cervical cancer has also risen and attributes the rise to media campaigns and other social organisations initiatives. At Miritini Municipal Council clinic, women are also encouraged to protect themselves against HIV and AIDs infection. The sister-in-charge of the Clinic Betty Omonde says it will be of no use for a woman to concentrate on contraceptives alone and remain vulnerable to HIV and AIDs. “We ask them to either use condoms, remain faithful to one partner whose HIV status they know”, she adds. She also says that most women who visit the clinic prefer injectables because it is a long term method compared to the pill that one has to take every day. “Most of them say they are too

The sister-in-charge of the Clinic Betty Omonde says it will be of no use for a woman to concentrate on contraceptives alone and remain vulnerable to HIV/ Aids. Pictures: Elizabeth Awour

forgetful and cannot remember taking pills every day, others say they feel nauseated and experience heart palpitations when using pills”, explains Betty. Anne Wanjiru is one of the women who prefer injectables to any other form of contraceptives.

She has been using injectables (Depo Provera) for the last 4 years and is comfortable with the method. “I use injectables because it is the most convenient for me and the only side effect is weight gain which is fine with me,” says Wanjiru.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Hope to women deprived of land E …By Samwel Kipsang

bby Chebet Chumo recently managed to get a share of her father‘s land after a 12-year court battle. Her brothers and her mother did not want her to get a share. They said that because all her children were sired by the same man, the man can marry her and therefore she should not inherit family land. This made Ebby to delay her plans for marriage in order to fight for her right. Ebby also managed to help her sister’s daughter get her mother’s share. Her unmarried sister had died leaving a daughter behind. She thanks Fida-K and the provincial administration for their support and assistance. Nelly Keter, 51, and unmarried has also been struggling to get a share of her parents land. Nelly who looks younger than her age works at KCC factory in Sotik. Like Ebby, she wants to get a share of her father’s land. She has made trips to the District Commissioner’s office, the District Officer’s office and the Land Tribunal and now she had come to a Fida-K forum to learn about her rights and seek assistance in fighting for her land rights. The human rights office at the district commissioner’s office referred her to the district human rights office where she was referred to the Land Tribunal. The District Officer summoned Nelly’s mum and her three brothers to talk to them about including Nelly in land succession. The District Officer later summoned land dispute elders to discuss on the same but Nelly’s mother requested that the matter be handled by their local chief. When Nelly saw that her mother was not interested in dividing the land, she went back to the district officer. The district officer sent members of land tribunal to go and hear Nelly’s side of the story. They discovered that one of Nelly’s brothers supported her getting a share of her father’s land but another brother, her mother and her sister –in –law

were opposed to her getting a share. Nelly said that her mother has eventually promised to give her a share in September 2011 but she thinks she these are empty promises meant delay and frustrate her efforts until she gives up on the mater. Suspicious of her mother’s moves, she has quietly moved to a court of law to seek justice. 60 years old Pauline Kipsang Chirchir recently had a breakthrough when the court instructed that she get 3.75 acres of land of Kipsang Chirchir’s land. She is the second wife of Maria Kipsang Chirchir. Her co-wife, Sally is dead and is survived by four children Pauline has six children.

Co-wives Maria had married her wives according to Kipsigis tradition that allow women to marry when they do not bear children. A court battle broke out several years ago when Maria Chirchir decided to give all her share from her husband to Sally’s children leaving out Pauline and her children. With the guidance of Fida Kenya and assistance from provincial administration, the land board, and the village elders, Pauline started a judicial process that eventually bared fruits. Pauline did a land search which showed that the piece of land that was contested was still registered under Kipsang Chirchir who had another wife besides Maria Chirchir. This discovery was the first step in her battle. The second step was to establish that she herself was married to Maria. The village elders and relatives proofed that she was married to Maria and she and her children should benefit from Kipsang Chirchir estate. With all these information the court eventually pallowed her to inherit a share of the land. And 51 year old Alice Ngeno was recently chased away with her six children by her husband. Her husband, Peter Ngeno had 14 acres of land and only four acres are now remaining after Ngeno sold ten acres.

Ngeno an alcoholic sells land and uses the proceeds in entertaining his friends. Alice wants her husband to divide the remaining piece of land between her and her co-wife, Reginah Ngeno but Ngeno wanted Alice out of the inheritance. Alice says that Ngeno claimed he had sold Alice share to educate Alice’s children. To compound the problem, Ngeno allegedly hates her daughter-inlaw, Norah Chebet Terer because she is educated, Alice adds. With the assistance of Fida Kenya and the government and the relevant government agencies, Alice took went to court and recently the court instructed that Ngeno’s land be divided between Alice and Reginah. What now remains is the implementation of the court ruling to enable her acquire her parcel of land. After listening to women’s predicaments during the Fida Kenya forum in Sotik, John Cheruiyot said that he wish men were more human. He was specifically touched by stories of two ladies, one known as Stella, and Peris Chepkirui. Stella arrived at Fida meeting at Sotik very late. The Children Officer who has been handling her case, Wilfred Sang had been looking for her all morning. She was traumatized and scared. She did not want to be photographed. According to Stella, she was married by John Kosgei, a retired army officer and had three children with him. She had one child when she moved to live with Kosgei who bought land for her. Sang said that a land agreement showed that the land that was being bought belonged to Stella. However, when Kosgei contested the agreement, the land tribunal ruled that the name of the title deed should bear both Stella’s and Kosgei’s names. But after eight years and without any proceedings on the said land, Stella was chased away with the children. When Stella launched her complaint in 2009 with the children de-

Fida lawyers in court: They continue giving hope to women deprived of their rights. Picture: Omwa Ombara partment, her case was brought to the court and in court, Kosgei disowned her saying he has never seen the lady. The court instructed a DNA to be taken on the children. Wilfred Sang said that there were other sufficient evident. He says that there are elders and other witnesses who can testify that Stella was married to Kosgei. He adds that taking a DNA was expensive to meet.

Surprise 28 years old Nelly Chepkirui said that he would have been Mrs. Nelly Kimeli Somoe but things later turns out differently. Nelly met with Mr. Daniel Kimeli Somoe while she worked at Kasarani in Nakuru. She said that she was planning to join college but Somoe promised to marry her and later on pay for her college fees. Nelly said that she became pregnant while still working at Kasarani. At this time Samoe took her to his home where she was later beaten and

chased away by her mother - in - law and her daughter’s. “Her mother-in-law destroyed her cooking stones, cups, and windows of her house,” she says. While still in love with Somoe, Nelly says she had joined Shammer Cornestone College in Nakuru for an (E C D) certificate course but she could not finish. But her mother-law instructed her husband to immediately stop paying for her education. After Somoe, Peris and the Children Department officer talked, he agreed to take care of her and the child by arranging to settle her elsewhere separate from his home, where they were to live as husband and wife. “Being an administration police officer he had requested that he be given time until he came back from an operation which soon ended, but he has since remained silent,” Nelly said. She said that despite summons by the Children Officer she has not turned up to join his family.

Mainstream gender in management of invasive species

…By Duncan Mboyah

nvasive species threaten ecosystems, habitats and species, causing extensive environmental and economic harm. It is a known fact that gender differences affect natural resource management in a number of ways. Men and women play different roles in the utilisation and management of biodiversity, as well as in agricultural production. It is important that a gender perspective on invasive species such as is the case with the management of water hyacinth in Lake Victoria and mathenge weed, scientifically known as Prosopis juliflora in the dry lands of the country be developed to help improve understanding of their impacts, increase effectiveness of prevention and control, and contribute to social equity. These differences may be specific to cultures, but women tend to have more responsibility for fish trading, subsistence crops farming and livestock keeping, collect fuelwood hence contribute more of the labour. Coupled with their domestic responsibilities this means women have greater demands on their time, and

factors that affect labour are likely to have a greater impact on them. Women often have less ownership and access to resources than men, making them more vulnerable to negative changes in the environment. On average women are less educated than men, and have less access to information as extension systems tend to favour male. This gives women less decision making authority than men. All these differences mean that gender modifies the direct impacts of invasive species. Crop pests of staples affect women more than men as 80 percent of women are engaged in food production, above men despite women lacking land titles. Women are usually responsible for livestock production, while men tend to keep larger herd that are more affected by invasive species that reduce forage availability. Some invasive species have a direct effect on the health of those who come into contact with them, an impact usually of more concern to women. As is the case in Lake Victoria currently, invasive species has affected the multiple uses of water, and the time and effort to collect it, usually the responsibility of women. Loss of biodi-

versity affects both men and women, but in different ways according to the different benefits derived. Some invasive plants have economic uses, like mathenge that is used for wood and so is water hyacinth that has a number of uses that give both men and women income. Sometimes one gender can benefit from the species while the other suffers loss. Generally women rate risks to be higher than men do, though the public probably rate the risk of invasions lower than experts do. Many invasive species have been introduced intentionally, with the decisions most likely to have been made by men. Trade restrictions imposed to prevent accidental introductions have gender related impacts depending on the product whose trade is limited. The introduction of weevils on water hyacinth on Lake Victoria calls for the involvement of all genders given that the weevils may stray in the villages once they have consumed all the weeds causing harm to crops and human beings and especially children. Impacts of established invasive species can be mitigated in many ways, which may have gender con-

Dr Pauline Mwinzi Principal Research Officer and Laboratory Supervisor for the Schistosomiasis Research Program at the Kenya Medical Research Institute and Center for Global Health Research located in Kisumu searching for bilharzias causing snails in the water hyacinth on the shores of Lake Victoria. Picture: Ajanga Khayesi siderations. Pesticides are commonly used, with many accidental and intentional self-poisonings occurring. In Kenya women are the majority of labour in high-value non-traditional crops, where pesticide use is greatest. Under-reporting of sub-lethal poisoning is thought to be lower in women. But manual control of invasive weeds in agriculture is often undertaken by women, so the use of herbicides could reduce the workload of women. Selection and saving of seeds for planting is often undertaken by women. Integrated pest management as a participatory approach includes gender and other social factors, and is the aspect of invasive species in

which gender has been given most consideration. Studies show that gender mainstreaming is still limited, with only a fifth of projects having specific gender-sensitive activities. This low level of attention to gender in environmental management is indeed worrying given that women play key role in agriculture which is the mainstay for many economies in the country. There is need to mainstream gender considerations in phase two of the Lake Victoria Environmental Management (LVEMP) and mathenge management project activities to help solve the problem of invasive species with the involvement of all genders in research, policy and practice in bridging the gender-blindness.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

B ook Review

Hope, Pain and Patience: Lives of women in South Sudan

…By Ruth Omukhango

nsights from war torn South Sudan now on the path to recovery has continued to depict women as victims of a conflict that span over two decades. Indeed women were abused physically, emotionally and sexually. During those long bloody days, these women lived through unimaginable levels of pain. They had to. For their children and husbands who went off to the war. Most of these husbands never returned as their blood flowed in a war that brought now Africa’s newest state to its knees. Those were dark and difficult years. The women fed eding their children on wild fruits and vegetables, living for the moment. Although the pain that these women lived through has been told, their patience and hope when the world watched from the periphery as Sudanese fought each other mercilessly remains untold and consequently understated. Rising from the heart of darkness And rise they did. Not from the periphery, but from the bloody struggle for liberation for they too became soldiers. As South Sudan celebrates the birth of a new nation after two decades of the long liberation struggle, the remarkable role played by women who form the majority of the population and partners in the struggle for freedom have not been recognised or documented. Like any other post conflict countries, the role played by women during liberation struggle is immense. As is the case with countries that have survived many years of civil war, thousands of Sudanese women joined the Southern Liberation struggle in response to a political situation that almost destroyed South Sudan as we know it. Women became both mothers and fathers to their fatherless children. Besides their role in fighting, women filled various roles in the community as they acted as mother, teachers and nurses among other critical roles. “Pain, Hope and Patience: The Lives of Women in South”, is a publication that documents the lives of different women in South Sudan - mothers, former combatants, political and community leaders, sex workers, victims of sexual violence HIV-positive women in order to understand their contributions. The publication attempts to understand women’s involvement in the war and the significant impact on the traditional structure, how women experienced and were affected by violence in Sudan as well as the challenges faced by women in post-conflict period as they try to carve out meaningful lives in the context of tenuous peace. It is in this documentation that for the first time, the world may well see the Sudanese women in different light. Her tenacity, deter-

mination and hope to rise against great odds are is well captured in this book. This publication is produced by the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation(IJR) , a South African NGO born in the aftermath of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission) after working with community leaders to jointly explore ways in which the nation building and reconciliation project can be furthered and deepened. As South Sudan charts its future, this publication will enable the examination of history of South Sudan that allows the Sudanese people to critically interrogate decisions made in the past and to understand how to how these decisions continue to influence the present. As such, these decisions are a vital part of learning to make informed choices. According to Frederick Bubenzer, one of the editors of the publication, the need for the publication was propelled by the recognition that the truth of the past has to be preserved, documented and made accessible in order to educate posterity. Being the first of its kind, the publication captures the needs of women and the hopes in the future. On the other hand, the testimonies of women in this publication reveal the vast challenges the lie ahead in giving women an equal share in the nation building project both at national and grassroots level . In order to understand bring out their experiences, the publication has outlined various thematic areas that clearly explain the magnitude and challenges of women in South Sudan. The first chapter of the publication examines that the institution of marriage in South Sudan and how practices such as polygamy, the payment of bride price and ghost marriages that affect women. Besides, the second chapter summariszes the experiences of women who were combatants and those who played essential support for the liberation movement as well as women’s experiences of the disarmament, demobilisation and integration programme that is assisting former combatants to reintegrate back into civilian life. The experiences depict of women who survived sexual abuse and details the horrors and consequences of being a rape survivor in

services both during and after the war. The focus is on women in health and education sectors and explores ways in which the war resulted in women taking on new roles and an overview of the current state of service delivery in South Sudan as well as the contributions and sacrifices made by women as they keep South Sudan’s Sskeletal health and education systems alive. The contributions of women working in the political spheres of leadership is also examined in the publication and explores the affirmative action quota stipulated by the interim national constitution and its perceived impact on date and extent to which stereotypes and conservative societal structures limit women’s participation process at both local and national levels. The issue of Sudanese women and the Ddiaspora has been examined in regard to the challenges and circumstances in which Sudanese women left their homes and their settlement in refugee camps and foreign cities. In his foreword, Francis M Deng, the UN Secretary General and Special Adviser to the Secretary General on the Prevention of Genocide terms says that Hope, Pain and Patience documents a traumatic transition, a societal breakdown and its impact on women Picture: George Ngesa striving to make ends meet under devastating circuma highly patriarchal society and how victims of stances. In On a the positive sexual violence are left without crucial support. note side, women have explored and discovered The publication also discusses the issue of new opportunities for self-advancement. economic challenges that has rendered many women into sex workers as well as documents the lives and experiences of women living with HIV in South Sudan linking economic factors as a contributor to the increase in vulnerability of women to the virus. The experiences and effects of war of on mothers in South Sudan and the effects of war on them, their needs they have, the support that is available for them and the types of support that are lacking. Besides, the seventh Chapter discusses the the contribution made by Sudanese women in the provision of social

Woman sets sight on ward seat despite great challenges

…By Omondi Gwengi

he was beaten in the last General Election but is not shy to contest again for the same seat as provided for by the new Constitution. Today Winnie Owuor, 62, a retired ICT specialist who is a widow, mother of seven, farmer and a community worker is eyeing a seat in West Yimbo ward, Siaya County. In the last General Elections, Owuor contested for a civic seat and lost. She, however, attributes this to the politics of ‘god fathers’ which she claims has dominated the region.

“It is hard for one to win an elective position in this region unless you are close to some political bigwigs,” she observes. Owuor claims it is because of revealing this truth that she became an unfavourable candidate. “I wanted to contest for this seat by virtue of ability,” she stresses. As the clock ticks away to the next polls, her hope is almost turning into despair going by the pace at which the Constitution implementation process is moving. “The implementation process is slow and this is hurting many systems in the country,” Owuor observes. She adds that the last elections

were manned by a lot of irregularities especially during the nominations which were unfair to women. “With the new Constitution, I believe that the process will be free and fair in 2012,” she reiterates. After all is said and done, Owuor believes a lot needs to be done in terms of civic education in order to enlighten voters on how voting will take place as per the new Constitution. Having worked as an ICT specialist for 20 years, Owuor retired and went into business where she established Urima Enterprise Limited, a large scale tailoring shop in Nairobi.

“I was making uniforms for Kenya Navy and Kenya Army among other organisations. I had to close down the business when my late husband got sick and I had to take care of him,” she says. During her working days, Owuor established a computer college in Nairobi which she also closed down. For the last ten years, she has been focusing on community work and now boasts of several projects she has made go through. “I had the vision of helping women and children. That is why I have been sourcing for funds to buy books and school uniforms as well

as support feeding programmes in nursery schools,” explains Owuor. She adds: “I plan to establish a programme that will economically empower those taking care of the orphans, fishermen and farmers.” With her good network and coordination, she lobbied Maxwel West Church of Scotland which dug a well worth KSh300,000 at Kanyibok village. “We saw the need to provide the community with clean water and that is why we dug the well, but I am disappointed because of the mismanagement by some individuals from the community,” she notes.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

Fare thee well, Wambui Otieno, daughter of the struggle …By Karani Kelvin

hen Virginia Wambui Otieno, 67, married Peter Mbugua, 25, in the morning of July 2003, the country was engulfed in a spirited debate on whether their marriage was ‘right’. Kenyans from all walks of life were left with their mouths agape as to how a former freedom fighter cum politician could get married to a stonemason. While a few people pointed out that the two were adults and could therefore make their own decisions, there were others who bore the opinion that the marriage was wrong on the basis of age difference between the couple. It was pointed out that Wambui was old enough to be Mbugua’s grandmother.

men to marry younger women. The questions raised by Wambui’s marriage to Mbugua are important to the gender debate for they help us see the ‘new’ frontiers that were being opened. Although there has been no such public celebration of an older woman and younger man union (to my knowledge) since then, the WambuiMbugua marriage in a way opened

The clan

Marriage With this marriage, Wambui brought out in the open what happens within society but is often hushed. There is no doubt that there are other older women who are ‘married’ to younger men but cannot come out in the open about their unions. Our society has criminalised, stigmatised and declared tacitly or otherwise as abomination unions between older women and younger men. Women who have ventured into these waters have as a consequence of their actions been labelled various derogatory and demeaning words. And so when Wambui, regardless of the repercussions of her actions, came to the fore with her marriage to Mbugua, she raised so many questions. Many of us wondered why, for instance, it is wrong for such unions to be there. We also want to know why then it becomes right for older

in his rural village. Although Wambui lost the case, her challenge to the status quo which held that women had no rights over the bodies of their husbands was a great leap forward in the gender struggle. This legal battle in essence was a conflict between customary and common law. Relying on the benefits of common law, Wambui filed a case hoping to get the right to lay her husband to rest.

A happy Wambui Otieno on her wedding day to Mbugua. Pictures: KenyanWoman correspondent

up the space for such unions. Wambui has also been in the limelight as a result of a court case in which she sought to have the right to bury her late husband Silvano Melea Otieno (SM Otieno). SM Otieno was a reputable Kenyan lawyer. His death boiled down to a legal tug of war between Wambui and his clan. Pitted against his inlaws, she wanted to bury her late husband in their Ngong farm while the in-laws insisted that Otieno be buried

At a time when customary law was (still is?) largely popular, at a time when men had more say than and over women, Wambui’s challenge to the same was a significant contribution to the struggle of women rights. While Justice Samwel Bosire ruled in favour of the clan, we salute Wambui who through the court case made Kenyans aware of the punitive nature of customary law. And we are aware that patriarchy forms the bedrock of such law. As such, Wambui’s quest to bury her husband was a bold challenge to patriarchy. It formed a basis of more inclusive family and inheritance law which take into consideration equality of the sexes. There is no doubt Wambui Otieno will also be remembered for her contribution to Kenyan’s liberation struggle. As a Mau Mau freedom fighter, she ended up being arrested several times for standing up against colonialists.

Raped And as a price for not letting up the struggle, she found herself incarcerated in Lamu Island. Here, she was tortured and even raped by Rudolph Speed, a British Chief Inspector.

Although Wambui lost the case, her challenge to the status quo which held that women had no rights over the bodies of their husbands was a great leap forward in the gender struggle. Upon her release from prison in 1961, she accused Speed of raping her. Her insistence to bring out to the fore her sordid ordeal in prison led to Speed’s resignation and his subsequent departure from the country. Reading the history of the late Wambui, one gets a feeling that here was a heroine who knew in many more ways than we will ever know what a just world meant. One hopes that in writing of our history, her contribution and that

of other women will be given credit. Feminist historians have always pointed out the male nature of history which segregates against worthy contributions of women. We hope our historians will move away from such trends. And it’s not historians alone. Our novels, poems, plays and short stories are largely on stories of male heroes. We hope that Wambui’s contribution will remain an enriching literary fodder.

Leaders demand budgetary allocation for Health …By Valerie Aseto

frica Women Leaders Network (AWLN) for reproductive health is calling on governments to consider sufficient budgetary allocation to reproductive health and family planning in line with the Abuja Declaration of 15 per cent. According to the leaders, this will help reduce maternal mortality that is rampant as a result of inadequate access to health care services. Secretary General to the world’s Young Women’s Christian Network Nyaradzai Gumbonzvanda, said most African countries do not prioritise health budgets and therefore, the limited access to health care services. “There is need to mobilise public support and political commitment in order to promote reproductive health and family planning as an intrinsic part of the broader goals for sustainable development of a country,” said Gumbonzvanda. Her sentiments were echoed by the National Coordinating Agency for Population and Development (NCAPD) Programme Coordinator Karugu Ngatia said Kenya’s current budgetary allocation is still insignificant since the country has robust population. However, Ngatia lauded the Net-

Youth attentively listen at a maternal health seminar. The government has not met the needs of 15 per cent budget allocation for health in the Constitution. Picture: KenyanWoman correspondent

work’s initiative to advocate for reproductive health especially on family planning. He said the move will help manage the population growth in Kenya and the realisation of the economic growth. “It will not be easy to realise the Vision 2030 with the kind of huge population of the country that keeps on rising. Family planning is the missing link in development and, therefore, ought to be taken seriously,” Ngatia said.

Jane Kiragu, a member of the Network said a process is underway to engage the Ministry of Finance to prioritise the reproductive health issues during budgetary allocations. Speaking at a workshop in Nairobi that drew participants from 15 countries across Africa, Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) acting director, Dr Muraguri Muchira said although Kenya is better placed with two ministries spearheading health issues, not much has been re-

alised. Muraguri said at the moment reproductive health budgetary allocation stands at eight per cent that is not enough considering the high population of the country. “Kenya stands at a better position when it comes to representation on matters of health. It is only this country that has the Ministry of Medical Services, Ministry of Public Health and Sanitation and within legislature there is also a commission handling health issues,” observed Muraguri. He said Kenya has also in place National Reproductive Health Strategy (2009-2015) that looks at family planning as well as the socio- economic disparities in contraceptive prevalence rate that is yet to be implemented. “There are very good health policies that if only were to be implemented fully, maternal mortality would be a thing of the past,” observed Muraguri. He is, however, optimistic that with the new Constitution in Kenya, women will be better placed in terms of access to health care services. Article 43 that says: “Every person has a right to the highest attainable standard of health which includes the right to health care services, including reproductive health care.” Muraguri urged women leaders

to advocate for women’s rights on matters pertaining to their health reiterating that women are the backbone of the country. African Women Leadership Network consists of women ministers, parliamentarians and civil society leaders from all over the continent. These women firmly believe that reproductive health and family planning are fundamental to realisation of human rights and should be located firmly within women’s ability to choose. The Network is equally committed to reducing poverty and improving the lives and health of people in the society. Globally the Network’s report says that there are 215 million women who want to use modern methods of contraception, but are unable to do so. About 78 million of these women live in Africa. Meeting the needs of African women would reduce maternal deaths in the region by 69 per cent, newborn deaths by more than 57 per cent, unintended pregnancies by 77 per cent, and unsafe abortions by almost three-quarters. The Network was formed through collaborative efforts of African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) and the International Planned Parenthood Federation Africa Region (IPPFAR).

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

South Sudan women are yet to forget the bloody past F …By Joyce Chimbi

or 21 years South Sudan was a no go zone as the sound of gunfire reverberated throughout its ten States leaving in its wake many dead, women widowed and children orphaned. Throughout this dark part of the South Sudan history many left the country to start afresh in neighbouring countries and even abroad. However, there are others who stayed on. Although the violence around them held no hope of peace and stability. They nonetheless held to a war torn country. Things begun to change in 2005 in a hallmark deal that not only saved the arid African country from total collapse but also instilled a sense of hope in the Sudanese people that something good could still come out of the many years of war. Considered the longest conflict in Africa, the Southern Sudan conflict killed 1.5 million people as estimated by UN agencies. However, six years on since the signing of the comprehensive peace agreement, there is still a heavy military presence with infrastructural scars inflicted by the many years of

conflict remaining a vivid reminder of how close South Sudan came to total collapse. The deal was a set of agreement of peace signed on January 5th, 2005 in Nairobi between the Sudanese Vice –President Ali Osman Taha and the late John Garang, then leader of the rebels Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA). “This agreement came to us as a ray of hope, I have lived in Canada for about seven years now but before 2005 I had no hope of coming back to South Sudan because of the conflict and destruction, but now I come to visit regularly,” explains Mary Frances Akal who sought refuge abroad.

Peace agreement “Although my family lives abroad, I really want to come back home, I feel hopeful that what is in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement will slowly but surely be implemented and we can strengthen a nation that is still too weak.” Now the Southerners have even more to celebrate after seceding from the North. For the women, this new political dispensation has opened a fundamental door of hope, peace and security.

Above: South Sudanese women dance as they celebrate Independence day.Below A Sudanese woman following proceedings Courtesy

Many women suffered emotional, physical and sexual violence in the 21 years of war and are now optimistic that the bloody past of horrid abuse is behind them. Akal’s sentiments are echoed by the former Speaker of the Interim Assembly, Eastern Equatoria State, and now Member of Parliament Hon Sabina Dario. “The determination to separate from the North saw many of us continue to hope for a united Sudan even when the evidence of the de-

struction around provoked disturbing images of our blood soaked past.” She adds: “My entire family lives abroad. I’m the only one left with some orphaned children, I stayed on because of the provisions in the peace agreement which if implemented can bring a realisation to our dream of a Sudan of peace, unity and prosperity. And now with the independence, there is no limit to what we can achieve.” Now that South Sudan has joined the community of African States, women are debating and fighting for an expanded role in the new institutions of government. This is important towards rebuilding infrastructure and civil institutions in a region cruelly devastated by conflict to a degree unmatched by other civil wars on the continent that will require profound changes. Sudanese women like Dario and Lakeside legislative assembly member Agnes Lawrence Odwar believe South Sudan’s post-war leadership

remains dominated by men, something which should be changed in the new political dispensation. In spite of the optimism and the readiness to get to work towards building Africa’s new State, women are still deeply apprehensive about the possibility of the region slipping back into armed conflict in light of the sporadic conflict across many States with the recent ones being in Unity and Jonglei State where scores of women were injured, raped and even abducted. These violent cycles of attacks provoked by warring tribes during cattle rustling in the case of Jonglei and disarmament exercise in the case of Unity State in an effort to recover illegal firearms in the hands of civilians, have continued to remind women of a past they would rather forget. Nonetheless, this is not lost on the government which is working on rapid response strategies to ensure that conflict does not escalate and that the plight of women is alleviate.

Women move a step further in reclaiming their space

…By Ruth Omukhango

nly one year after the general elections were held in Sudan and only two months after the independence of South Sudan, women in South Sudan are repositioning themselves to reclaim their space by advocating for their rights in social economic and political spheres of development. Even after the promulgation of the transitional Constitution of the Republic of South Sudan on July 9, this year, the women are keen to review the provisions in the transitional Constitution and present their recommendations on women’s rights to the Government of South Sudan (GOSS) to be incorporated in the next draft Constitution. The women of South Sudan are lobbying for the new Constitution to increase the participation of women at all level to at least 30-35 per cent as well as the inclusion of international instruments that articulate critical gender issues and protect women’s rights. These include instruments such as the protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Women in Africa (the Maputo Protocol), and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Violence against Women (CEDAW). Despite an increase in the number of women in decision-making positions of the former Government of Southern Sudan which recognised

women for their roles and contributions to the liberation struggle as entrenched in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005, women through a presidential directive have managed to increase their space to 30 per cent. The CPA provided a provision of 25 per cent for women’s representation in all levels of Government. Currently, there are more than 95 female MPs in the recently reconstituted National Legislative Assembly out of the 332 members, and five women in the newly formed Council of States. In the newly formed government of the Republic of South Sudan, there are five female ministers and nine deputy ministers. Similarly, there are women who serve as head of commissions, presidential advisors and in other higher positions in the national and states governments. According to Beatrice Safari, a prison’s officer in the Central Equatorial State, women’s involvement in politics is not free of contestations and challenges. Women still face numerous challenges that must be addressed in the new Constitution of South Sudan. Some of these challenges are socio-cultural while others relate to different status of women such as differential in educational level, age, marital status, class, family background and ethnic regional variations. “I am happy that despite our suffering and pain, we are not a free state but we have to sit down and look at the development goals for women for

us to gain meaningful freedom,” observed Safari. Cultural practices and perceptions among the tribes of South Sudan represent major obstacles to women’s participation in politics and other public affairs. Practices such as early, forced, and/or arranged marriages hinder women’s advancement and empowerment. Such practices, for instance, limit women’s chances to continue education which will allow them to pursue careers in politics and other professions. In addition, cultural perceptions and patriarchal tendencies that view women as suited only for domestic responsibilities while involvement in politics is seen as men domain hinder women’s efforts to pursue their political goals. “It is critical that traditional cultural practices that treat women should be abolished in the Constitution and instead the government puts emphasis on infrastructure such as building more schools for the girls to be educated,” Safari observes. The same issues are articulated by Mastura Yusuf, a student in development studies at the Islamic University in Uganda. She says that although many women voted during the referendum, they continue to suffer due to the fact that they cannot exercise their rights. Yusuf hopes that women refugees will be resettled and given land to settle regardless of their gender and cultural context.

Coming from the Dinka Tribe, Yusuf says a young woman in her community is considered as a source of wealth and the community has a right to stop a marriage if the prospective spouse is not able to produce enough cattle. As a result many girls have not been married because the community dictates who they should get married to and the amount of dowry to be paid. “It is worse for widows who have succumbed to violence and have been denied their husband’s land and property when they refuse to be inherited,” says Yusuf. However, according to Yom Dau Dawol, who relocated to South Sudan after independence, there are very many expectations for the new Government but change comes gradually. Women, however, have to put their act together and speak with one voice in order to achieve the desired results. According to Dawol, the Government should address the immediate challenges facing women which should be looked at from a family perspective. Many women were rendered widows during the struggle since most of them lost their husbands and families during the struggle and this explains that escalating number of street children in Juba. “The girl child has a right to education like any other person in the community and this should be emphasis of the Government as a step towards development of South Sudan,” observes Dawol. According to Adeng Loek Den,

Member of Parliament for Jonglei State and Secretary General for Information in the Women’s Caucus for Parliamentarians, there is still need to increase the level of education by building for capacity at all levels including the women’s caucus in understanding their rights for them to compete favourably with the men. “Since human rights issues include both men and women, there is need for cooperation for them to ensure that women’s rights are protected.” For Loek, priority for the Government is to walk the talk by building infrastructure such as roads and electricity in the remote areas. It should also facilitate service delivery which should be easily accessible. With this, some of the harmful cultural practices with time will be eliminated naturally as women will be enlightened and backed up in the Constitution. “We cannot build schools without proper roads and I believe that opening of schools will encourage women regardless of ages to go to school,” observes Dawol. According to women of South Sudan, if the Constitution has to stand the test of time, equality of men and women has to become a reality in the life of South Sudan people. They are optimistic that although the cultural perception of women will take time to change, the Constitution and other laws will emphasise this equality not only in words but in action.

Issue Number 22 • October 2011

ABANTU at the forefront of women emancipation

…By Joyce Joan Wangui

omen in marginalised communities of Oloitoktok District in Kajiado County are a proud lot. They can now walk with their heads high and flaunt a new developmental dispensation in their area, thanks to one organisation; ABANTU For Development. The organisation, a registered NGO promotes gender equality and envisages a world in which women and men are equal partners in all levels of decision-making and in creating sustainable development. Abantu which means ‘people’ in many languages symbolises a people-centered philosophy. In its quest to promote gender equality, the organisation has managed to mainstream its agenda on four main areas namely; health, wealth, good governance and peace. The organisation, the first NGO of its kind in Oloitoktok, dared to venture where others just peeped, in a bid to develop the people in the area. Hitherto known for their backwardness, these pastoralist communities, particularly women have always lived in their own cocoon. Their day-to-day lives and activities are strongly tied onto their retrogressive cultural backgrounds, which inhibits them from development. Prior to the coming of Abantu in Oloitoktok, women in this area lived in the comfort of illiteracy, submissiveness and other cultural barbarism such as early marriages, girls’ circumcision and early pregnancies. Even as Kenya ushered a new constitution, only a paltry in this area knew of its existence, much less, the gains enshrined in the constitution

Left: Abantu ‘s Lilian Mogiti does a jig with local women at Oloitoktok as she spreads the education message. Right: The women later assemble to celebrate gains in new Constitution.

for women. Speaking on Gender and good governance, Lilian Mogiti, a project officer at Abantu, expounded the

“We realised that for a long time, women in Kajiado have been sidelined and they know nothing about leadership. Abantu could not sit back and watch women wither away while their peers in other parts of the country progressed.” — Lilian Mogiti,

Pictures, courtesy Abantu

need to empower women in leadership and governance structures, especially in marginalised communities. “We realised that for a long time, women in Kajiado have been sidelined and they know nothing about leadership,” she said adding that Abantu could not sit back and watch women wither away while their peers in other parts of the country progressed. She decries the backwardness of women in this community and attributes it to cultural practices such as early marriages and lack of education. Here, women are regarded as second fiddle and likened to children, by their husbands. They cannot speak out, even in matters that directly concern them. A woman who is vocal is believed to be a dare devil and a bruise to the male ego. The few who are educated, albeit, little have an uphill task to convince the entire community that they can take the leadership mantle. According to Mogiti, it is against this backdrop that Abantu carved a niche for itself, to empower women to engage in leadership roles. Her work on the ground is anchored to her organisation’s mission which seeks to empower African people, especially women to participate in decision making on issues that impact on their lives at local, national, regional and international levels. Abantu trains community leaders who in turn train women right from the grassroots. “In our projects, we do capacity building on women leadership, form women lobby groups and create ad-

vocacy programs that are aimed at creating awareness on the role and benefits of women leaders.

New constitution and its relevance in Oloitoktok Abantu was the first NGO of its kind to train women in Oloitoktok on civic education, particularly regarding the new constitution. In this regard, women in this area like all others in the country, are happy that the new constitution brought with it numerous gains for their gender. They have lived in the dark and succumbed to cultural norms that made them vulnerable. In the new constitution, all forms of discrimination including violence against women is explicitly prohibited. Through Abantu, these women are now aware that they can no longer be submissive, particularly where domestic violence is involved. In the past, cases of women defilement in the area have been handled with a lot of bias. Lack of courts to intervene in criminal cases gives the local chiefs immense powers to mishandle such cases. A case example is of a teenage girl who was defiled by an older man; her parents were only paid sh.10000 to settle the matter. Under the new constitution, women can own and inherit land and matrimonial property is protected during and after termination of marriage. This clause has been celebrated to a larger extent, by vulnerable women in Oloitokkot who have previously suffered in the hands of men.

In Oloitoktok, politics has been the preserve of men. This is slowly changing as more and more women show interest in political leadership, thanks to the new constitution. The provision that advocates for increased numbers of women in all decision making organs including the devolved government has been well received in the area. “Women now know that they can vie for elective seats as provided for in the new constitution,” noted Mogiti. She says her organization takes pride in the knowledge that more and more women are showing interest in vying for governance seats. It is imperative to note that these women feel confident and rejuvenated to compete with men, something that was unheard of in the past. Women hold numerous workshops to drum up support for the implementation of the new constitution because they know they have a lot to gain. They now understand the onethird gender policy and this has prompted many to show interest in leadership. In the past, men have always brainwashed women not to vie for competitive seats. They also made them believe that they can only vie for one seat and this does not resonate with the constitution’s provision of the 30 percent threshold. Abantu encourages women to support their fellow women. “We urge women to wear one hat. They should first know that the first political party they should align themselves with is one that focuses on women emancipation,” says Mogiti.

Executive Director: Rosemary Okello Editorial Director:

Arthur Okwemba

Managing Editor:

Jane Godia

Sub-Editors:

Duncan Mboyah, Joyce Chimbi, Omwa Ombara

Contributors:

Odhiambo Orlale, Barasa K. Nyukuri, Swabrinah Shaban, Grace Igandu,Karani Kelvin, Ben Oroko, Kariuki Mwangi, Elizabeth Awuor, Faith Muiruri, Paul Olale, Omondi Gwengi, Yusuf Amin, Samwel Kipsang, Ruth Omukhango, Valerie Aseto, Joyce Joan Wangusi.

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

Design & layout:

Noel Lumbama (Noel Creative Media Ltd)

This paper is produced with support from The United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF)