The Gender Agenda- the journey of growth at community level
Following recent changes in Kenya’s
system of government, women are now key stakeholders in the disbursement of public
resources. The actualization of devolution went a notch higher on the 8th
of July when female leaders from Kisumu County converged at one sitting to exchange
ideas on how to push forward the women’s agenda as far as the Millennium
Development Goals are concerned. The objective of the meeting was to establish
if women’s needs were being addressed, at county level, considering that there
was a sizable female representation in the new devolved system of power.
This breakfast meeting was graced
by a number of key government officials at county level such as chiefs, county
representatives and the Deputy Governor; Ruth Odinga. As an initiative of Kenya
Federation Advisory Organization (KEFEADO), a women empowerment organization in
Western Kenya, the event carried a lot of weight that will contribute into
actualizing the implementation of the ‘gender agenda’ in Kisumu County.
The first problem for all of us,
men and women, is to not to learn but to unlearn…Gloria Steinem
Each leader was put to task and asked
to account for the progress they had had in their respective dockets since the
wake of their nomination earlier this year. A number of grey areas were pointed
out, key of them being how to create a women centric society that can influence
and focus on the needs of a county from a holistic point of view. Possibly, if
we can invest in women, their natural maternal instincts can be tapped into and
result in the growth of the entire society. Other areas of concern included;
- Land acquisition
Are women in the position of
acquiring land and owning title deeds? African heritage and society has for centuries
shunned the idea of women owning land. The perception on the same has since
been passed down and inherited by the general public. According Ruth Odinga,
even if women are in the position to purchase land they are held back by the
intimidation and stigma that they will face since it is not considered ‘African’.
The same concerns were raised for
issues related to owning businesses. Dr. Rose Kisia, the women representative
for Kisumu County, expressed her intentions to see women in Kisumu empowered as
far as small scale businesses are concern. Under her capacity, she proposed
ideas on how trade and market growth for women would create a strong economy in
Kisumu.
In addition to this, there is a
need to also advice business owners and open their minds to business ventures
that can expand their enterprises (i.e. applying for tenders for projects at
county level). By increasing the market base for local traders and creating a
need for suppliers within Kisumu as opposed to acquiring goods from other
counties, Kisumu would eventually be able to sustain itself, nurture small
scale businesses and create numerous job opportunities.
- Maternal health and Education
If women and children are dying
today, who will we govern us tomorrow? Who will vote us in during the next
general election? Maternal health is a key element of the women’s agenda. It reflects
a population’s morality rate. In this day and age, the country should be
equipped with enough services and trained personnel to ensure the security of
mothers while they are delivering. Kisumu was pointed out as one of the regions
in Kenya that is well equipped with hospitals that can provide good maternal
care.
Education was also highlighted as
an area that, if invested in, can contribute to the realization of the women’s
agenda. It was brought to the members attention that women need not only get
academic education but that there was a need to train them in skills that are
relevant for them to have personal development and growth.
- Security
Women who stand up to vie for
political seats tend to be maligned by both men and women in the community.
Gone are the days where leadership roles were reserved for men. Every woman
should be encouraged to take up a leadership positions; should they desire to.
Security in general must also be assured especially to female entrepreneurs’ so
that Kisumu can eventually turn into a 24 hour business hub where people are
allowed to trade without fear.
Why women? Why the gender agenda?
With a sizable representation of
women in government positions, they now have the opportunity to bring to life
new development in different regions of the country.
As much as leaders may defend
what they have done with documentation and words, it is only through the perceptibility
of their actions that constituents will be in a position to know they are fulfilling
their duties in accordance with the constitution of Kenya. If a viable
communication strategy is put in place to gunner the support of women in the
region and sensitizes others as to the gender agenda, a realization will be
made on the development goals of Kisumu County. Such is a leaf can be borrowed
from both male a female leaders in the rest of the country.
Policy implementation in every
county has to be relevant to the community and must follow a plan so that
bullets are not being shot in the air. In order to hit the nail on the head,
there needs to be accountability from the those in power and a mentorship
program that will enrich people with one of the most important resources we own
in the country; Knowledge!
Another key factor is to do away
with the main clamor for the stalemate in development which is pushing for
these agendas as an individual rather than as one unit. Members of each county
need to work together for the entire country to be able to appreciate the role
of the devolution system. Every leader
should make use of their clout of space at county level so as to see the
fulfillment of a bigger picture in the country. This involves the active role of
citizen participation as well.
The devolved system of government
has presently allowed for new dispensation in the implementation of policies
that has opened up a horde of opportunities for women at community level. The
challenge now is in changing women’s perceptions towards their position in the
society towards politics and administration. With women championing their own
gender agenda we may be in the wake of a new dawn. The county of Kisumu can now
afford to anticipate positive changes in their hometown with a passionate group
of female leaders ready to take the bull by the horns and bring the Millennium
Development Goals to life.
We have all been charged to be drivers in the devolution system, not passengers.
For more reference on this check- http://www.preventgbvafrica.org
...Cheusi
