A comprehensive coverage of GENDER andIssue Number ELECTIONS 35 • February 2013 1

SPECIAL EDITION

Issue Number 35 • February 2013

EDITORIAL No turning back It takes more than women must vote for their own he long awaited D-Day is here with us and wom- en must seize the opportunity as voters by ensur- ing that they put aside their differences and rally a party number to around one of their own who is on the ballot pa- perT to win in the March 4, 2013, General Elections and take their agenda to the next level in the corridors of power. They can not turn back now nor engage in a blame game about the controversial Supreme Court ruling that denied them the 2/3 affirmative action rule nor the chaotic and un- win nominations democratic party primaries that was very women unfriendly. Instead, forming half of the 14 million registered voters the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission; they have the power to turn the tables around in the political arena by coming out in large numbers and using their numbers to pick one of their own vying for any of the six vacant seats. The six coveted seats are President; Senator; Governor; Women’s representative; Member of Parliament and County representative. In fact voters will now be spoilt for choice to pick the best of them. The number of women contesting for elective posts is the highest in the country’s history, thanks t to the affir- mative action clause, effective advocacy and lobbying by the women’s movement and the civil society , and a decision by women to stand for their rights. For the second time in the country’s history, we will have a woman on the presidential ballot paper. The first was Water minister Charity Ngilu in 1997, who lost to President Moi, this time we will have former Constitutional Affairs minister, Martha Karua, who doubles as the Narc Kenya chairperson and Gichugu MP, battling it out with six other men. Intimidation Despite the intimidation, harassment, sexual violence meted on some of them; seven women luminaries are vy- ing for the post of Governor in the 47 counties. They include Higher Education minister, Dr Margaret Kamar, in Uasin Gi- shu; Sports Assistant minister, Wavinya Ndeti in Machakos, and former Central Bank Deputy Governor, Jacinta Mwatela, …By Jane Godia Voters queuing to cast their votes during the recent nominations marshalling the in Taita Taveta, among others. numbers key to winning party tickets and not just being a member. Photo: Correspondent A record of 19 other women leaders of substance have he recent party nominations give a been cleared by IEBC and are campaigning for the Senator’s clear picture of the political land- would provide them with a password. They ment, then the party would instead chose a post in close to half of the Counties in the country. They in- scape and how different people en- ended up losing because they had failed to stronger man and withdraw the woman.” clude Water minister, Charity Ngilu, who is the Narc chair- gage. While many women turned master the rules of the game. They failed to The women needed to have under- person, in Kitui, and Housing Assistant minister, Bishop outT in their large numbers to vie for the vari- understand that gatekeepers of political par- stood that choice of political party had Margaret Wanjiru, in Nairobi. ous political positions, they found the field ties are men. to be given due consideration and not There is even sweeter news from the 280 vacant par- to be unlevelled. Most of them did not know According to Hamisa Zaja, Chairperson just by wearing party colour and paying liamentary seats where women politicians have taken the the tricks of the game and ended up losing of Disabled Groups in the Coast region, the up for membership. They needed to have challenge in 45 of the 47 counties. The missing ones are in out even where they had an advantage espe- women were missing when all the dealings been conversant with the party constitu- West Pokot and Wajir County. This is a big kudos to the cially in the big parties. were being done. tion and rules for nomination. women and the civil society that gave them the support That is why there are many women who “When men call boardroom meetings, and moral backing. have been nominated for the General elec- the women are not there, neither are they in- Membership But lessons learnt in this electoral cycle is that women tion but they are in small parties. This then volved hence they are absent from decision “Many women do not know the party leaders must spread out and not concentrate on vying for leaves the question of what are their chances. making of what actions the party is going to constitution in relation to nomination,” says the Women representatives’ seat as they have done this time take,” says Zaja. Her sentiments are echoed Masheti. “This is why contesting their being around, because the seat is already reserved for them as per Parties by Joy Masheti of Caucus for Women Lead- locked out would not have favoured them the Constitution. Politics of parties is not just about regis- ership who says that political party constitu- as the parties were acting according to their After all is said and done, the women’s performance in the tering to be a member of the organisation. It tions do not favour women. constitution.” party nominations has been impressive and we wish them involves much more. It involves being visible According to Masheti, political parties Looking by the line-up given by par- success in the Elections so that more will be elected to the as well as paying money to big things like were putting a line-up by putting their best ties, it is quite clear that men play interest- Senate, Governors’ office; Parliamentary and in the County presidential campaigns among others. leg forward. ing games and it was all about appeasing of Assemblies to ensure that the affirmative action principle be- Many women felt let down by parties parties within coalitions. Women lost out in comes a reality, sooner rather than later. because they assumed that by the mere fact Bid the game plans of political parties when they Like former South African First Lady, Graca Machel, told that they were members of that party it was She gives an example of Margaret Wan- were sharing seats. a national prayer breakfast meeting recently, women must enough. They forgot about the wheeler deal- jiru who after losing her bid for governor- “The women were too trusting and did be in the frontline to vote for one of their own and also to ing that goes on under the cover of darkness ship was offered the next best alternative. not realise that there were other factors at promote peace and harmony during and after the last person in clubs that they may not know exist or “Although Wanjiru was offered women’s play and hence the reason why they were cast his or her vote and the result are announced. may not be allowed in for the fact that they representative slot by the party and she re- not involved in this process and that is why it And as we now look forward to casting our votes, let us are women. Networking and cutting of deals fused, the party went ahead to pick another looked like a whole male affair,” says Masheti. reflect on a quote by Machel, who was part of the group of with clans, business communities and fami- woman who was looked upon as the next Other than failure to be strategic, the eminent parsons led by former UN Secretary General, Koffi lies that have been gate keeping in sections stronger candidate,” explains Masheti. She women also did not have money that they Anna, that restored peace after the 2007 polls: “If we have of the community to determine who will be adds: “This woman was seen as one who was could have donated to the parties. While intelligence, imagination and the ability to dream, things can nominated are done at night. stronger for the party.” men will use even family property such as happen.” They forgot that by the fact of their mari- Masheti notes that where nominations land and buildings as collateral to get loans tal status they could not stay out late when were not done, the parties opted for selec- to enable them have money for political cam- party big wigs were strategizing. They did tion. “Party chose leaving out women who paigns, women are not able to do this because INSIDE: 8 pages of PROFILES of not know that they had to be strategic in en- invested in their campaigns,” says Masheti. many of them do not have title deeds in their gaging with the political party process, know She explains: “The parties were viewing that names and they cannot use family property to Women Candidates 2013 elections the godfathers and the middle-men who where there are men for senate of Parlia- Continued on page 3 2 Issue Number 35 • February 2013 Women got raw deal in the nominations …By Henry Owino

espite assurance by po- litical parties that nomi- nations were going to be free, fair and transparent, theD reverse is what was seen in most regions. On the nominations day, the first problem to experienced was delay in availing voting materials in various polling stations. In most polling stations, the nomi- nation exercise delayed for hours with some opening as late as 5:00pm as was the case in Mbagathi polling centre in Lang’ata Constituency, Old Kibera and Olympic primary schools in Kibra Constituency. Countrywide, all the 47 Counties experienced different challenges with delays being the common denomina- tor. This is because most parties slated their nomination exercise to start from 8.00 am until 5.00pm in the eve- ning. No centre was ready by the set time with the earliest polling station receiving its ballot boxes and papers at 10:30am. Violence However, there were no reported cases of violence in these two constitu- encies as most voters remained calm. Chaos erupted only after release of the results for the various constituencies and wards where it is claimed defeated candidates were announced winners. Several aspirants who had been in the political arena for a long time assumed they would be outright win- NOMINATIONS: Political Parties had to seek assistance while ners. The political heavyweights who Most political parties’ election ticket had it rough during the nomi- conducting their nominations. were locked out of the race were not boards underrated the nomination nation campaign period. She was the ready to concede defeat. This irritat- exercise and assumed it would be only woman among seven men vying ed the electorate leading to protests simple. They did not anticipate the for the position. All her competitors since not even a single one of them made it to the ballot box were direct- and with rumours going on to social challenges that followed. had hired youths as bodyguards to as- had their phones on. ed on who to cast their vote for. media, contributing a great deal in Voters complained that some can- sist their campaign and shield them “This was a plot to drag the pro- “I do not understand why there throwing a spanner into the works. didates were bribing voters and had from opponents. cess late into the night so that women is a delay in delivering the ballot strategically placed agents to monitor Onyango lamented that the delay who are my supporters would leave materials as scheduled as we were Media them. in voting and availing materials was without voting,” Onyango noted. She promised by election board. This is The disputes caused by aspirants “Some aspirants who gave us a tactic deployed by CORD Elec- added: “The delay was a deliberate not fair to my supporters as a candi- led to media airing unconfirmed re- money are now using agents to force tion Board to discourage supporters plot to cause confusion and create date,” said Onyango. sults with many picking information us to vote for them inside the polling from electing leaders of their choice. tension. Surely many voters espe- Out of the seven women as- from social media. centre,” shouted one voter. “We cannot She said her supporters com- cially women left the polling stations pirants who contested for various The two leading coalitions — Ju- accept these agents to intimidate us.” plained of being threatened. without casting their ballot papers for county representative seats in the bilee and Cord —were blamed for the Dorothy Onyango, an aspirant for Onyango’s efforts to reach the fear of unknown consequences.” five wards making Kibra Constitu- confusion that followed. Kibra parliamentary seat on an ODM election board through were futile It is alleged that the few who ency none was successful. Lack of civic education to blame for primaries failures …By Valentine Atieno women aspirants,” she explained. she will dish out money and if you don’t give tions were total sham since most people were According to Salim, politics is a very clean hand-outs then they tell you that they only rigged in and in some cases voters were be- omen aspirants in Kisumu game but people in it tend to make it look dirty deal with those with money.” ing transported from one place to the other County who lost during the po- because those who are money minded tend According to Nadhifu Yusuf Hamis who to vote for the well to do male opponents. litical parties’ nominations said to think that everything in politics revolves was vying for Kaloleni Shauri Moyo Ward in “I had to stop activities at one of the poll- the biggest challenge they faced around money. Kisumu Central Constituency on an ODM ing stations because the returning officer was wasW lack of knowledge by their audience on the “I always want to give credit where it ticket, party officials on the ground catego- removing voters from the queue to go act as various positions that the devolved govern- is due because when we sit back and cheat rised aspirants into three groupings in which the clerks in the exercise which was against ment brought forth. ourselves that all is okay then we will be some were viewed as non-performers. the rule,” explained Hamis. According to Farida Akhmed Salim who lying to ourselves. We believe so much in “There were members, owners and fol- She claimed that her bodyguards were lost the seat for Kisumu Central parliamentary money more so in Nyanza regions where lowers. Women were categorized into fol- denied entry into the polling centres yet the on an ODM ticket noted that majority of the money and politics are inseparable,” reiter- lowers and I was once asked what I have same was not applied to the male opponents. people were not aware of what a Governor or ated Salim. done for the party to make me qualify for The meeting helped women aspirants who Senator means though they were interested in The politician was speaking to women being a ward representative,” noted Hamis. lost in nominations to air out their challeng- voting. leaders and journalists during a media encoun- es and find a way of forging forward despite ter held under Peace Initiative Kenya project in Voters their loss. Aspirant Kisumu. She says this made matters worse on the Salim who is also a civic educator for She noted that another factor that makes it ground as the alienations confused the vot- Attitudes Shauri Moyo Ward observed that those who impossible for women to secure political seats ers more with some confusing women aspi- According to Jane Godia, Gender and are aspiring for the Governor and Senator is enmity amongst women. rants for being ODM campaign agents. Media expert with African Woman and seats should take the initiative of educating “Women do not like other women prosper- Both the aspirants said that religion also Child Feature Service, an implementing the people they want to serve on what their ing and this makes them not vote for the fe- played a big role in the nominations. They partner in the Peace Initiative Kenya project, positions entail so that the voters are able to male gender,” Salim said. noted that among the Muslims it was a chal- members of the public should change their make informed decisions. lenge as their religious leaders urged them attitude towards female aspirants because “I had a big challenge running as parlia- Opponents to leave the seats for male competitors from they too have space in the society. mentary aspirant and at the same time doing “The challenge that women aspirants their faith. “The issue of voters asking a female as- civic education at the grassroots. Despite the must overcome is that they are competing “Civic education can help enlighten resi- pirant the whereabouts of their husbands time I spared to educate people in my Con- with male opponents who have money and dents and religious leaders on gender dispar- should stop because some male aspirants are stituency on civic matters, male rivals still this really brings them down because when- ity so that they are informed that women can in the race but such questions are not posed dominated by bribing voters on the election ever they go for political rallies, the people’s also serve as good leaders,” observed Hamis. to them yet they too are not married,” she ob- day, something that was unheard of among expectation is that at the end of the meeting The women claimed that the nomina- served. Issue Number 35 • February 2013 3 PROFILES Dr Sally Kosgei It will be hard to dethrone the diplomat and luminary politician

…By Ray Limo who regard her a principled politician. ing her Aldai Constitu- She is among politicians in the Rift ency seat arguing she he was once the most power- Valley who have dared to go against the was not done develop- ful albeit reserved civil servant political tide in the region but with rea- ing the area. under President Moi’s Kanu sons she believes are valid. “You just do not regime. Kosgei explained her decision to jump into a position be- SNow Dr Sally Kosgei has made stick to ODM while most leaders in the cause it has been creat- a headlong plunge into politics and region had ditched the party for URP. ed. You must ensure you is making very many tactical moves. Kosgei disclosed that she had been do not leave unfinished When she left Government to pursue approached and persuaded to decamp business behind. Lead- a career in politics, critics thought she but she stood her ground saying she did ership is doing at least was out to remain relevant in the pub- not believe in “running up and down”. 99 per cent service to lic eye. Kosgei recalled the formation of your people, not 50 per However, the self-made politician the Kenya’s People’s Union (KPU) for cent and then you aban- surprised both ally and foe when she Nyanza residents in 1966 after leaders don them,” she explains. curved her own niche and is today from the area defected from Kanu. She chose ODM a key political figure in the country’s “It (KPU) did not serve the inter- as the party of choice politics. ests of that region. Instead that move and clinched its ticket Kosgei’s role at the mediation talks cost them because they were isolated unopposed during the after the 2007 bungled General Elec- for 40 years from the rest of the coun- recent party primaries tion introduced a new side of the for- try. Is that what we want for our people? in Nandi. mer Head of Civil Service in former she posed. Kosgei will now face President Moi’s Government. Kosgei said leaders in Rift Val- it off for the seat with ley should make careful choices when newcomers, Cornelius Contacts leading the community and cautioned Serem of URP and Gil- She played a key role in the negotia- against making rushed political deci- bert Nyongi (UDF) in tions using her international contacts sions. the March 4 General to help resolve the standoff that almost “Before we leap, let us first have a Elections. Kosgei has contributed to effective use of resources in her constituency. sent Kenya to the dogs. clear sight of the direction we are tak- Her competitors, Photo: Kenyan Woman Correspondent The highly educated career diplo- ing. We need to evaluate the pros and however, face an uphill mat is credited for introducing a sober cons in order that we do not isolate our task trying to dethrone approach to the resolution of the post- community from the rest of Kenya,” she Kosgei who has used organisations abroad thus hastening Kosgei, Lina Jebii Kilimo and Mar- election crisis by the warring parties. explained. her international circle of friends to completion. garet Kamar are women who exceeded She was also a key plank in Gov- During campaigns for the new develop Aldai in the five years she has Development record will play a key expectation in their performance as ernment efforts to defer the cases at the constitution, Kosgei strongly advocat- been MP. role to determine aspirants who will be MPs and cannot be compared to their ICC cases back to Kenya. ed for its passing despite opposition Kosgei has supplemented financ- elected in the March 4 polls in Nandi male counterparts some of who have Kosgei used her diplomatic deft from Rift Valley residents who were ing of nearly all her CDF projects County if results of the recent nomina- performed dismally. work to get appointments with key led to oppose it. with donations from her friends and tion are anything to go by. Knowledgeable people in ODM say world players and talk them into ac- Outgoing Eldoret North MP Wil- that Kosgei developed a close rapport cepting to defer or defer the cases fac- liam Ruto led majority of leaders in CAREER with Raila Odinga, the ODM leader ing among others United Republican mounting opposition to the Constitu- 2008: Member of Parliament for Aldai Constituency. during the brief period he served as tion even after backing it in the initial Leader (URP) leader William Ruto. 2001-2003: Permanent Secretary, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Public Service cabinet minister in Moi’s regime. stages. Kosgei, who is serving in the cur- Office of the President. Successor rent government as Minister for Ag- Benefits 1999-2001: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. riculture is an alumni Stanford Uni- 1998-1999: Permanent Secretary, Office of the President. The relationship suffered a set- versity and among the few Ivy League However, the Constitution was 1992-1998: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation. back when Raila ditched Kanu and graduates in the last Parliament. One passed after Kenyans overwhelmingly quit the Cabinet towards the end 1986-1992: High Commissioner, Kenya High Commission in the United Kingdom and Ambas- of them was the impressive Mandera voted for it, and like other Kenyans, sador Ireland and Switzerland. of 2002 after former President Moi Central MP, Abdikadir Mohammed. Rift Valley residents are reaping its 1986: Permanent Representative, Kenya Mission to UNEP, Nairobi. nominated Uhuru Kenyatta on Kanu benefits. as his chosen successor at a time Her vast experience in public ser- 1985-1986: Counsellor, Kenya High Commission, Harare, Zimbabwe. vice is also an added asset and could Kosgei said she believes Rift Val- when Raila (and other Kanu stal- June 1983: Acting Head, Africa and OAU Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. probably explain the effective use of ley residents were misled to oppose the warts) were covetously eyeing the resources in her constituency. Constitution that would later benefit July 1981: First Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kenya Mission to HABITAT. presidency. them on flimsy grounds. 1978 -1981: Lecturer, History Department, University of Nairobi. Quite naturally, Kosgei could not Seat “The devolved system of Govern- Education have continued relating closely with The MP has done so much in the ment is a God given gift through this 1980: PhD in African Economic History, Stanford University, California, United States. a politician who had rebelled against five years in Aldai than any other elect- new constitution yet this is what the 1975: Master of Arts in African History, Stanford University, California, United States. her boss, President Moi, in his hour of ed MP did since independence. She is people were being told to reject,” she 1974: Bachelor of Arts (Hons, University of Dar-es-Salaam (History/Political Science) greatest need. in the coming General Election seeking said. 1968-1970: Cambridge School Certificate (‘A’ Levels), Alliance Girls’ High School She maintained her distance to retain the seat on an Orange Demo- Fast forward to 2013, Kosgei was 1965-1968: Cambridge School Certificate (‘O’ Levels), Alliance Girls’ High School from Raila until after Narc swept cratic Movement ticket. among leaders touted for positions of 1961-1964: Aldai Girls’ Primary School Kanu out of power and Moi handed Kosgei’s tough stand on matters she Governor or Senator in Nandi County. 1957-1960: Serem Primary School over to Mwai Kibaki at the end of believes in has endeared her to many However, she resorted to defend- December 2002. It takes more than a party number to win nominations Continued from page 1 with some challenging ways of hand- parliamentary seat but lost, handouts cally, then they would make a huge dia Encounter meeting that. ing over the money. In these hard eco- were the women’s main undoing. difference in politics. “While money issue played a big get loans. In some circumstances they nomic times, a loaf of bread was very “Politics is all about money. I Her sentiments are echoed by role in the nominations, women as- stand a huge chance of their families welcome among the electorate espe- walked around selling my issues and Nadhifa Yusuf Hamis, who was also pirant must also learn to engage with breaking should they lose something cially when it had money stuck at the policies but in the end I would be asked aspiring for a county representative other women’s organisations like that does not befall men. sides. “what are you giving us’,” says Salim seat in Kisumu but lost in the nomi- Maendeleo ya Wanawake,” reiterates Many of the candidates who were The same applied to bottled wa- who spoke during a Women’s Media nations. “It is high time women politi- Bonyo. She notes; “women must come being given preference are those who ter being supplied to voters who had Encounter in Kisumu under the Peace cians especially those who are starting together and women’s organisations having been making huge payments stood in the sun for a long time in Initiative Kenya project. got funded for campaigns and other must come together to support fellow into the party’s coffers. “What some queues as they waited for the voting Salim says the electorate was rude activities.” women. candidates did was to contribute gener- materials to be organised. and she would receive innuendos like If women are to win nominations ously to the presidential campaigns and ‘if you women have nothing to give Advise in parties, and especially in big parties this worked in their favour,” explains Voters us then you should stay at home’. According to Dorothy Bonyo, they must learn to engage with the Masheti. Women therefore, lost because “People are not interested in poli- Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson parties in more strategic ways. They Other candidates had an edge be- they failed to meet voters’ expectations cies but how much money you are Muhoroni, women must engage with must learn to play politics like men. cause they were bribing voters. Even through the handouts. going and the highest bidder wins,” the party. They must have money and Like novelist Steve Harvey wrote, they though enticing voters is outlawed, it According to Farida Salim who notes Salim, adding that if female pol- women aspirants must learn how to hey must learn to act like ladies but is said that many candidates came up was aspiring for the Kisumu Central iticians can be empowered economi- fundraise Bonyo reiterated at the Me- think like men. 4 Issue Number 35 • February 2013 PROFILES Changing slum life is Edra Mbatha’s agenda …By Duncan Mboyah With unemployment being her, Mbatha is looking forward to sensitising the people to be dra Mbatha’s entry into elective poli- independent and engage in self-employment as tics is all about the desire to change the opposed to relying on white collar jobs. She will lives of people living in Mathare slums, engage micro finance institutions to open up in Nairobi County where she has lived the area to enable the area residents access loan theE better part of her adult life. facilities to start small scale businesses. She is contesting the county representative Having come to Nairobi in the early 1990s, seat, Mlango Kubwa Mathare Ward on a Social Mbatha came face to face with poverty which Democratic Party (SDP) ticket against five male forces women to idle the whole day as their aspirants from different political parties. children beg for food from the rich in the sur- In this battle her agenda is huge and she rounding neighbourhood. hopes that the electorate will give her an oppor- “This habit really irritated me and I was tunity to represent them. forced to form Mugambo Women’s Group with the objective of sensitising women on the im- Challenge portance of engaging in business and taking Coming from the slums where retention their children to school,” she explains during in school is a big challenge, Mbatha intends the interview. to have all ongoing school drop outs back to school. She notes that poverty forces parents to School keep their children at home for several months. The group members ended up starting small “Many children in this slum are out of scale businesses in the area and through this ef- school due to lack of fees yet public bursary fort they have managed to take their children to funds are misappropriated by the officials,” school away from sending them to beg for food. says Mbatha, who is married with four chil- Mbatha then started a rehabilitation day dren. “This is one area that I will change to care centre within the slum to help cater for the benefit the needy only.” street children who were idling the whole day Mbatha, a graduate of fine art with a di- while other children went to school. ploma from Banana Hill Art Studio intends to She challenges women to stand out and go engage the youth in environmental conserva- for more elective positions instead of waiting tion. She notes that the area has poor drainage for opportunities to be given appointments. system and heaps of dirty smelling garbage. “We must stop complaining and go for more Besides education and sanitation, Mbatha seats besides what the constitution has given intends to advocate for zero eviction of slum us,” she advices. dwellers. Slum residents have faced forceful In her hunt for votes in the sprawling slum, evictions particularly where they are accused of Mbatha conducts door-to-door and small occupying other people’s land. group campaigns as opposed to public rallies in Health is a big challenge in the slum and selling her policy to the over 10,000 voters. Mbatha intends to look into ways of empower- She is relying on her work within the area ing community health workers as well as start a that has endeared her with women’s groups, the counselling centre that will offer advice to drug Mbatha challenges women to stand out and go for more elective seats. youth and parents to win the seat. addicts, couples and teenagers. Rural women’s pathetic lifestyle pushes Agnes Awinja Okong’o into political arena

…By Duncan Mboyah says Okong’o who will be contesting from tractors on the way to the plant. through Labour Party of Kenya for Okong’o intends to mount civic ural women work so hard the parliamentary position in the education on the importance of but get little attention, yet coming General Elections. having a medical scheme and social they have the drive to excel Okong’o observes that the exist- security savings among sugarcane in their day to day activities ing status of women in the area and farming community that for a long despiteR living in areas where modern other parts of the country requires time have been living from hand to facilities are non-existence. women leaders to save them from mouth. They start by doing their daily singing and dancing for their male She also hopes that the opportu- morning chores that includes cook- counterparts, a habit that started at nity will enable her improve health ing breakfast and preparing their independence and has grown with facilities and infrastructure to save children for school. Later in the af- time as if it is one of the main roles people from travelling long distances ternoon they prepare meals for their of women. in pursuit of medical services. school going children. Okong’o, 52, intends to embark on provision of quality education that Food Male will include adult learners as well. Okong’o who was at the forefront But come in the afternoon, they “This is the only way to minimise in settling Internally Displaced Per- attend political meetings addressed the girl-child school dropout rate and sons who were ejected from Naivasha by male politicians who promise to retain them in school and through to during the 2007-2008 post election change their lives. And this has been colleges,” she explains. violence that rocked the country, says the trend every electioneering year she built 25 houses for the IDPs. She since Kenya got independence 50 Classes also provided them with food and years ago. Okong’o who graduated from other effects. However, one woman, Agnes Kenyatta University with a first class Above all, Okong’o notes she has Awinja Okong’o, a retired education- honours in early childhood educa- contributed immensely in nurturing ist wants to change all this through tion plans to have all high schools young women to becoming respon- entering elective politics with the sole in the area start computer classes to sible women in the society. "I intend to provide quality education to all" aim of solving the problems women enable students gain knowledge on “I have helped built churches, pay — Agnes Awinja Okong'o undergo in Awendo Constituency, information technology. school fees for the less fortunate stu- Migori County. The constituency is Upon her election, Okong’o plans dents and also empower youths start new having been carved out of Rongo. to introduce a bill in parliament to income generating projects,” she ex- She was then posted to teach in Nan- Kibuye Mixed Secondary School and “I want to help women of this area force sugarcane firms to weigh the plains. ga, Victoria and Xaverian primary Aga Khan School before being pro- start a women finance trust to help cane on the farms unlike the current Okong’o started her education schools. She recalls how the pupils moted to become a Tac Tutor and, them acquire loans locally and start trend where they are weighed at the career as an untrained teacher, be- excelled in her Swahili subject with later Programmes Officer on Early their own income generating proj- factory, something that makes farm- fore proceeding to Asumbi Teachers high grades. Childhood Education in Nyanza ects that are not tied to politicians,” ers lose a lot of cane that drops off Training College for her P 1 course. She was later on transferred to province. Issue Number 35 • February 2013 5 PROFILES Naomi Cidi joins the race for Kilifi County senate seat …By Faith Muiruri tenders who have over the years used them to deliver the Coastal voting bloc. he is among a handful of women who “We must identify like-minded po- have waded through the murky political litical parties and spell the modes of en- waters in the country to make sure that gagement to make sure that we remain their names are on the ballot paper come relevant even after the elections,” she SMarch 4, General Election. expounds. Naomi Cidi who is vying for the Kilifi County Cidi says that most people in the Senate seat on Shirikisho Party ticket is confident County have been marginalised in that she will clinch the ticket. government affairs with power being The seat, which has attracted a significant consolidated by a minority group who number of male contestants among them for- are insensitive to the plight of the re- mer powerful Cabinet minister Noah Katana gion. Ngala, is promising to be a bruising battle. She cites the Rural Electrification Cidi is not new to public service. She has Programme which is currently being served as a General Manager in charge of sales implemented successfully in different at the Kenya Airways where she was instru- parts of the country yet the County has mental in developing and implementing mar- not received a single penny to aid in keting strategies for Kenya. She has also served jump starting the project. in the same capacity at the Tourism Founda- tion where she assisted in the setting up of Micro a tourism data base for Kenya. Cidi has also Further Cidi notes that the Wom- served as the Deputy Managing Director of en Enterprise Fund (WEF), a micro fi- Kenya Airports Authority. nance flagship project rolled out by the government in 2007 to improve socio- Expertise economic status of women across the With a Master of Arts degree and a Higher country has not had the envisioned Diploma in Marketing from the McGill Univer- impact on the lives of thousands of Cidi Promises to reduce poverty and promoting development. sity in Canada, Cidi brings with her unrivalled women in Kilifi who continue to break expertise in corporate governance and she their back as they struggle to put food such as the Neem tree which grows wild in the to other countries and counties for processing. hopes to transform Kilifi County from being on the table. County. Another resource is the salt that Kenyans one of the poorest regions in Kenya to an eco- “My leadership is primarily about bringing Cidi has been instrumental in driving civic consumes. This is extracted from Magarini, Kilifi nomically vibrant region. the development of the County at par with the education especially around the current Con- but processing industries are outside Kilifi. This “Kilifi County has lagged behind in devel- rest of the Country,” she asserts adding that the stitution particularly in creating awareness has been one way of killing the livelihood of Kilifi opment over the years due to lack of an aggres- first step in improving the economic status of around the women’s gains. residents. sive political representation which I am prom- county is to improve the economic status of the She takes credit towards the establishment ising to deliver once elected,” she says. communities. of Mekatilili Memorial Primary School. Priority She cites the glaring poverty levels in the Her political prospects are hinged on her The candidate says that she is best placed to Cidi further explains that while there are County which she says have become synony- ability to marshal support from like-minded articulate the aspirations of Kilifi people and is many commercial enterprises such as manufac- mous with the area inspite of the fact that there leaders who are vying for complementary seats willing to use her unrivalled expertise in man- turing companies in Kilifi County, locals rarely are huge resources which remain untapped. as well as potential voters in the community. agement to restore the county’s position as one get the first priority in regard to employment Just like in most other regions, Kilifi is ready of the most economically viable regions. opportunities. for a change of guard. “The County is ready for Patron “Kilifi though endowed with natural re- It has been proven that Kilifi County has the a rebirth through the new constitution to en- As the patron of the Coast People’s Fo- sources, largely benefits other counties. For highest number of tourist hotels and although sure that policies developed at the national level rum, Cidi has been instrumental in organising example, Kilifi County is one of the biggest this is a seasonal product, it is yet to benefit resi- fully address development needs of the Kilifi meetings that bring together local investors. producers of cashew nuts but nuts are trans- dents in any significant way. people,” she says. She is credited for having initiated the ported to Thika for processing,” she explains. She says that education remains key to Cidi notes that time has come for leaders in Malindi Woman Development Trust to help For years, residents of Kilifi County have emancipation of local people and plans to the area to spell the rules of engagement and women in the area establish small scale busi- cried foul due to the fact that raw materials are push for laws that are beneficial to the com- stop playing second fiddle to presidential con- nesses and exploit available nature resources extracted from within the county and exported munity if elected.

Loans given out to women are well spent

…By Boniface Mulu lings, Mwingi South with kshs 4,000,760, Mu- ciaries are expected to repay to enable others agement committees. titu with keshs 4,000,280, Mwingi North with to benefit. Kitui Deputy District Cooperatives Of- he women in the Kitui County are keshs 3,000,953 and Kitui South is the last “There are some groups that we lent mon- ficer, Miss Rosa Kimotho, asked cooperators doing well in responding to the bor- with kshs 3,000,910. ey in 2008 and have not yet ended repaying the to have good relations with the other societ- rowing, utilisation and repaying of The WEF official was speaking at a meet- loans to us,” he revealed. ies. the Kenya’s Women Enterprise Fund ing of sensitising some 35 women groups from Oyowo said that the Ministry is helping Kimotho asked the women in the Kitui (WEF)T money. Kitui Central and Kitui West constituencies on in looking for the markets for the groups for County to have compelling economic objec- WEF Eastern Provincial Regional Credit formation of cooperatives organised by the Ki- their business products. He asked the women tives if they want to start cooperatives in the Coordinator, Mr. Joseph Oyowo, disclosed tui District Cooperatives Office. groups that have not got money from them to area. that currently there are 646 women groups in Oyowo said that Nyanza and Rift Valley apply for the same from them to benefit them- the Kitui County. Provinces are where few women groups have selves. Plan He said that those groups are 210 in Kitui been formed in Kenya. “This WEF money is so much and one She said that there is no cooperative of less Central constituency, 142 in Kitui West con- group cannot finish it and the Ministry know than ten members. The officer said that the stituency, 87 in Mutitu constituency, 78 in Repayment how to deal with groups and not individuals economic appraisal (business plan) should be Mwingi South constituency, 69 in Kitui South He said that the women in Kitui Central who are difficult to trace,” Oyowo said. written in the simplest way possible in order constituency and 60 in Mwingi North con- are the ones leading in Kenya in borrowing He warned participants to desist from be- for any group member or person to be able to stituency. and repaying the WEF money and urged the ing members of more than one group adding read and understand it. rest of the women in the country to emulate that such individuals will not be loaned mon- She said that the loans given to co-oper- Money their Kitui Central constituency counter- ey in future. ators must be insured through the societies. He disclosed that the Ministry had loaned parts. Kimotho asked the cooperators to have the groups a total of Kshs 35,000,378 with the He said that the WEF was initiated in the Men close relations with the Ministry of Coopera- Kitui Central constituency leading by borrow- country in 2007 by the government for the He told the group to give membership in tives and Marketing Development if they want ing Kshs 11,000,135 shillings. good of the country’s women. their groups but warned that the number of to develop well. Oyowo said that the Kitui Central is fol- He said that the repayment period of the men should not exceed 30 per cent and they She asked them to keep politics out of their lowed by Kitui West with Kshs 7,000,340 shil- loan from the WEF is one year and all benefi- should not be signatories in the group’s man- societies for their own good. 6 Issue Number 35 • February 2013 PROFILES From humble beginnings, Faith Kawira wants to be the people’s representative

…By Martin Murithi n evangelist, a businesswoman, Hamza Ahmed party owner and politician all rolled in one. That is what sums up the description of 40-year-old puts security as her AFaith Kawira aka Mwangaza. was born as the second child in a fam- number one priority ily of six and she is In the coming General election, Kawira will be on the ballot paper, …By Duncan Mboyah courtesy of her Mwangaza Party. She will be vying for the Buuri Constituency seat and hroughout her stay in the sprawling Kibera will battle it out against a team of men and slums where she was born 60 years ago Ham- female opponent. za Ahmed has seen the slum transform from Kawira, an evangelist began her edu- a peaceful paradise to a den of robbery, family cation at CCM Ontulili Primary School violenceT and rape. between 1980 and 1988 before moving to According to Ahmed, security has collapsed paving Moyale Girls’ Secondary School in 1989. She way for criminals to roam the area freely. completed her secondary school education This new lifestyle has led to the deaths of many inno- in 1992. cent youths and to some extent innocent residents. Kawira grew up under difficult circum- Ahmed is contesting for the county representative seat stances and was brought up by her mother for Makina Kibera Ward in Nairobi County on a United after her father died when she was still Party of Kenya (UPK) ticket. This is her first stint in poli- young. While growing up she would work "It is action we need to move the area forward, not tics and she is driven by the desire to create peaceful co- as a casual labourer in neighbours’ farms to rhetorics" existence in collaboration with the police, youth and resi- supplement the family income. dents in order to save innocent lives. — Faith Kawira “Security collapses after 10pm in this area and it is at Sibblings this time that gangs operating in the slums raid and kill “This was meant to boost my mother’s ises and rhetoric’s. I have been on the ground built toilets for Timau Primary School and innocent people,” she says. income so that we could raise enough money working with these people”, she says. three other schools at a cost of KSh600,000. to feed my younger siblings,” she explains. These are what she believes will work to “We expect our children to perform ad- Criminals Completing her high school was not easy her advantage against her rivals because she equately in national examinations but how Ahmed intends to scale up community policing by and it took a lot of struggle. Immediately has been on the ground interacting with lo- will they do so effectively if their toilets are informing the police of the existence of criminals and thereafter, Kawira started a small business cal people and taking care of their problems. a health hazard?” asks Kawira. She observes: disclosing criminal hot spots on condition that the police at Kiirua, baking cakes and selling for a little “I wonder when the aspiring people say “Timau Primary School had been closed by does not reveal the identity of the informers to the thugs. profit. This later expanded and materialized they will come to sit down with the people the Public Health Officer but on seeing the “This is my sole aim of joining politics because as a into hardware merchandise which spread to to analyse and seek ways of addressing their plight of the children and the passion I had mother I have seen many parents lose their children who various other parts of Meru County and the problems. If they are true leaders they should for education, I decided to build them the could have been helpful to them and the society at large country. have known these challenges long time ago toilets and we extended this gesture to sev- and yet previous elected leaders have never bothered to However, started engaging in business at and need to come armed with solutions to eral other schools which were having similar change the situation,” she notes. a very young age, Kawira has always been in- the suffering of the people,” she observes. problems.” Upon her election, Ahmed says she will engage elders, volved in one business or another. Currently Kawira, a renowned business lady in Kawira believes that once elected she will tenants, landlords and youth in the area with the aim of she is a prominent investor and a successful Meru, commands a big following among the have an opportunity to extend her develop- uniting everyone. business lady in different towns trading un- middle aged and young people. ment achievements to reach more people in In her bid to end insecurity, Ahmed plans to start a der the Mwangaza Holdings, an enterprise Buuri Constituency where she plans to focus recreational centre where youth will have an opportunity which started from very humble beginnings Water on improving infrastructure and enhancing to engage in sports and also attend vocational trainings. and propelled to success. She has huge plans for the people of her better health facilities. She plans to start income generating projects like toi- The hunger to move to higher levels of constituency. Once elected to parliament, She says many roads which had earlier lets and water points to help the youth earn a living instead education never left her. She always aspired Kawira says, she will seek to provide water been tarmacked were left without mainte- of engaging in criminal activities. to get a degree. After raising enough funds, for the residents. This she notes will help in nance and turned into an eyesore. The roads Ahmed has been active in bring people together and she enrolled herself to study for a marketing ensuring food security. are currently impassable. she helped form Mchanganyiko Women’s Group and In- degree course at Kampala International Uni- “Availability of water will give the resi- Kawira attributes this to poor leadership terfaith Women for Peace after the post-election violence versity between 2009 and 2011. dents an opportunity to think of other mech- and lack of concern from the leaders whom in 2000. anisms of generating wealth and supporting she says have deserted the electorate who “We helped cool down the struggle between tenants Initiatives other activities like education,” she says. gave them the mandate to preside over their and landlords through peaceful engagements,” she recalls. Kawira was the first to indicate her inter- Considering the need for water, she has development. Ahmed also helped form Vision Sisters for Kibera, a est for the Buuri Constituency seat in Meru also initiated a project where more than group that today has a plot, a rental social hall and toilets County although the whole region has never 6,000 residents of Timau area benefit directly Market for all genders. elected a woman. She is has been behind a from access to clean domestic water. “Many of our farmers cannot take their Upon her election, Ahmed intends to help develop a series of initiatives in the constituency which She notes that the residents of different produce to the few available markets, making health facility adding that none exists in the area yet the include supplying more than 2,000 reflector areas of Buuri have lacked clean water and most of the farm produce to go to waste,” ob- area residents are forced to walk long distances at night to jackets to the boda boda (taxi motor bike) have always depended on purchasing wa- serves Kawira. She adds: “We have also had seek medical attention. riders. ter from a non-governmental organisation cases of people being carried away by floods “Many expectant mothers have died in this area due to She also organised for the training of the which sells the commodity at exorbitant pric- during the rainy season due to lack of proper lack of affordable public health facilities since the existing boda boda riders to acquire licenses, a move es that is unaffordable to most people due to roads.” ones are private and costly,” she notes. which she says greatly reduced the number the high levels of poverty and low economic Further on, Kawira promises to revive all Ahmed plans to increase environmental awareness of motor cycle accidents that were being wit- empowerment within the constituency. the health facilities that have stalled due to and start a local cooperative society to enable the residents nessed in the constituency. Similarly Kawira has been behind the lack of enough funding and personnel. acquire loans at a low interest rate She is also the brains behind Kawira force behind the construction a bridge that She also challenges her opponents in Married with six children, Ahmed was born 60 years Mwangaza Foundation, a non-governmental connects Timau town and Riverside area the race to familiarise themselves with the ago in Kibera and attended a local primary school where organisation that seeks to uplift and empow- which is currently the headquarters of Buuri. problems facing the residents of Buuri before she left in class eight. er women and orphans in the community. Mid last year, a mock election carried out promising what they cannot deliver to avoid She intend to sponsor trainings on business and help The organization currently educates by a group of youth projected her as the most derailing the constituency development fur- women learn how best to manage loans. more than 20 young people and offers credit popular candidate in the constituency. Her ther. She is the only female candidate in the area in a race facilities to women at low interest rate. interpretation of this is that the residents are Kawira is urging all of them to uphold that pits her against seven male aspirants. “This has greatly benefitted and helped ready for a woman’s leadership and this gave peace. She is also appealing to young people “The area has been represented by men for a long time them pick up the pieces of their lives even her the courage to soldier on. to desist from hate politics orchestrated by and nothing has been done in solving problems affecting after the death of their husbands,” notes On matters of education, Kawira has been use of alcohol. She cautions the youth against residents. As a woman, I am going to make changes and Kawira. at the forefront in championing for adequate being misused by politicians who use them create an environment of development,” she reiterates. “If we have to move our constituency facilities and infrastructure in schools. Last to ascend to power but dump them imme- forward it’s by actions and not empty prom- year through the Mwangaza Foundation, she diately. Issue Number 35 • February 2013 7 PROFILES Alice Wahome Holding TNA’s spotlight in Kandara …By Ryan Mathenge Wahome boasts to being a mem- for all. She is also a member of the ber of various professional organisa- Kenya Women Political Alliance and fter failing to capture the tions such as the Law Society of Ke- Kandara Women’s Group. Kandara parliamentary nya and the Federation of Women Wahome also serves as the vice- seat narrowly in 2007, Lawyers (FIDA) in Kenya. chairperson of the Centre for Multi- Alice Muthoni Wahome While conscious that the elections Party Democracy (CMD), an or- isA not leaving anything to chance. will not be easy, Wahome has already ganisation that seeks to promote the This year she has been strategic in outlined her strategic plan for Kan- institutionalization of vibrant and her planning within the political dara Constituency. democratic political parties capable process. She says that her agenda is for of enhancing and perpetuating mul- Wahome, won the nomination for things that are practical and lists the tiparty democracy in Kenya. the March 4, General Election. She problems facing Kandara as lack of “Nationally I serve as the vice- was strategic in her selection of party. sustainable water programmes, edu- chairperson at the Centre for Multi- She polled 27,602 votes during The cation, health and security among Party Democracy (CMD) which is National Alliance (TNA) party nomi- others. instrumental in civic education in line nation with her main rival Maina Ka- “I am focussed and ready to trans- of promotional of peace and cohe- mau managing 10,000 votes. form Kandara by initiating develop- sion,” she explains. According to area residents they ment projects and working with the selected Wahome and voted over- community’s leaders,” says Wahome Membership whelmingly for her because she is a who believes in teamwork. “I am In Murang’a South region, she leader who has been with them on the looking for cooperation from local is virtually a member of all the pro- ground. leaders as well as the county govern- grammes. She serves as a member of Being a board member of several ment to ensure that we take Kandara the District Road Committee, District organisations in the region, Wahome to the next level.” Health Board, District Development was seen as one who easily identified She is looking to upgrade the con- Committee, District Project Develop- with the people on the ground. stituency’s health facilities. Wahome ment Committee and Area Advisory says she will push for the Kandara Council. Direction Health Centre to be upgraded to a With over 18 years in legal back- According to area residents “she district hospital. ground, Wahome engaged in re- has always been on the ground and “As the Kandara MP I will work searching drafting and advocacy work has also given direction of issues of it hard to ensure I help solve many of of the Equality Bill, Family Protection human rights”. the historic problems facing the lo- (Domestic Violence) Bill, Criminal Those who voted for her were cals,” said the female candidate. Law Amendment Bill and Affirmative keen on a visionary leader who would One of the major problems fac- Action Bill. deliver and her gender was not an is- ing the area residents is water short- Through the League of Kenya sue. age. Despite bordering the Aberdare Women Voters she been instrumen- Wahome is leading a crop of Mountains, Kanda, which is in tal in conducting civic education tar- women in Murang’a who are vying Murang’a South region suffers from geted at enhancing awareness around for several positions with the assur- water shortage. the electoral process, combating vio- ance to win and make history in the lence during elections, reiterating the region that has been male domi- Agenda importance of voting, how to vote and nated. Wahome says that the region’s right to vote. Through this she has With determination and not put education standards have been low Alice Wahome holds her IEBC clearance certificate after winning party ensured people’s participation in the off on ground that she is a woman, and her main agenda is to ensure that primary. political process as part of democra- Wahome, a lawyer by profession has levels of education are raised. tization. proved to the world the worth of “Education is a key pillar towards her leadership skills. Having been development and a lot will have to be former MP Maina and former county Wahome is the chairperson of Democracy educated at the University of Nairobi done in my tenure to improve stan- clerk Mr PMG Kamau who have been the League of Kenya Women Vot- “I embrace the principals of de- she graduated with honour in law in dards,” she says. cleared to run for the seat on March ers, an organisation that lobbies for mocracy, rule of law, supremacy of 1984. She was admitted to the bar in After losing in 2007 Wahome 4 General Election. Wahome believes inclusion of women in all spheres of the Constitution and strongly believe 1985 after completing her Diploma lodged a petition in the High Court that she has advantage of her competi- life. She serves as the District Chair- in the separation of powers of the three in Legal Practice from the Kenya challenging the election of Maina tors because she has been nominated person of Maendeleo ya Wanawake arms of Government,” says Wahome. School of Law. With this she became and demanding a recount of parlia- on a party that has Murang’a as its for Murang’a South, the oldest and A she holds the TNA spotlight an advocate of the High Court and is mentary votes that were casted in stronghold. largest grassroots women’s organisa- in Kandara, Wahome remains one also a Commissioner of Oaths. the constituency. The suit is stilling Human rights issues have been the tion that believes in uplifting and of the few women who were daring In 2003, Wahome furthered her pending within corridors of justice epitome of her life and she has been empowering women as a means of enough to vie for an elective parlia- education and graduated with a Di- and has not been determined. fighting for the rights of the marginal- alleviating poverty and creating a mentary position that would pit her ploma in Teaching and Training. This time around, she will face the ized, women and children. better environment and quality of life against men. Women make the highest numbers in political parties’ membership roll …By Boniface Mulu to do things that will make them to peaceful campaigns. hate speech and intimidation. That is men on the same positions. be disqualified by the Independent “Using abusive languages is part your responsibility,” Mavisi reiterated. Paul Kasimbu of UN Women enyan women are doing Electoral and Boundaries Commis- of political weakness. Your weak- She said that the money used by said the organisation was fully pre- very well in political par- sion (IEBC) of Kenya,” Mavisi ad- nesses always work on your weak- the government in funding the po- pared to empower all women includ- ties because their registra- vised. nesses,” she observed. litical parties in the country will be ing aspirants should seek assistance tion for party membership She was addressing women can- She asked the women candidates audited like any other government from the agency. isK big. didates from Kitui County during to be very careful about the tactics expense. Kasimbu noted that posters, fly- According to Violet Mavisi, an workshop on political leadership or- of their opponents who are fond of She said that if the women can- ers, billboards and other publicity advocate of the High Court of Kenya ganised by the UN Women in part- chaos. didates in the country will not be materials are important in politics to this makes it important for women nership with the INADES Formation, trained on constitution and political woo voters. candidates to understand the Elec- a non-governmental organisation. Security leadership they will be violating the tions Act and the Constitution be- Mavisi asked the aspirants to be “Arrange your security through- law without knowing. Websites cause they direct how the elections in the know of political issues in the out the day. You can even arrange to Speaking at the same event, Boni- Laura Kimwele said that the Ke- are going to be conducted. country through reading newspapers, get government security,” she advised. face Kavulu, a civil society practitio- nya Women Political Candidates listening to radio and watching televi- Mavisi urged the women to re- ner, said that women in politics face Programme’s database/website gives Violence sion. port cases of insecurity to the police a lot of challenges and should be the female aspirants coverage free of She observed that the 2007 post- “The IEBC is going to give us a lot since as political aspirants they have trained to overcome them. charge. election violence occurred because of information between now and the many enemies trailing them. “We want women to acquire “The programme allows you to people did not acknowledge the po- elections date through the media,” She made it known to them that skills to compete competently with interact with voters by getting and sition of the Electoral Commission of noted Mavisi. it is an offence to transport or bribe men in politics,” Kavulu said. responding to comments. Liking or Kenya (ECK). She also appealed to the wom- voters as it could land one in a court. He noted that women should go disliking of your page among other “Women candidates must not en who are candidates to conduct “You must condemn violence, for elective seats and compete with benefits,” Kimwele explained. 8 Issue Number 35 • February 2013 PROFILES Cut out for the people, Isabella Lenah Nzingi fights for Highridge Ward …By Mercy Mumo ence with the then sitting councillor have gone as far as intimidating fe- hospital with 24 hour casualty, mor- in labour. A government sponsored but my plea fell on deaf ears,” she male aspirants. I have received death tuary and maternity services will youth polytechnic would be ideal to he has relentlessly fought narrates. threats twice and had to stand firm ease the strain of the residents. train those who do not qualify for for the rights of women and That was the only public health in my quest for justice,” she reveals. “It is possible, it is practical, we university education and will help children without fear or fa- facility in Westlands Constituency. Nzingi holds a Diploma In Ap- pay taxes and if we cannot get ba- in promoting specialization of hand vour. In 2012 she mobilized It was serving a huge population of plication Software and Data Devel- sic public amenities, then I think as skilled labour. parentsS from Visa Oshwal Primary the Dipsy slum. The facility provided opment from Uptech Computer Col- a government we are failing in our “The youth can enhance their School to protest against the alleged ante-natal services, family planning, lege and a certificate in Information obligation to the people,” notes Nz- skills in specialised labour. I will sale of the school, a fight that she has HIV testing and counselling, immu- Technology from Inoorero College, ingi. ensure that a bureau for specialised put up since 2007. nization, tuberculosis treatment and formerly Kenya School of Profes- Some of the key issues that she skill is in place in the ward. We shall Last month, she managed to ob- other outpatient services. sional Studies. hopes to deal with include access to then have a database for employment tain court orders with the help of the “As we speak, nothing has been health care, affordable education and with standardized payment rates for immediate former Makadara MP constructed at the site even after be- Business unemployment among the youth. different services. This is my strategy Gideon Mbuvi to uphold the public ing promised that a bigger health Besides politics, she runs Bella Parklands Highridge comprises of doing away with cheap labour,” af- status of the school in line with the facility would be put up in the plot. Enterprises that deals with supplies, of upper middle class dwellers. There firms Nzingi. Government’s stipulation since 1954. The property was allegedly sold to property management and sales as is a huge gap between the rich and Expansion of public bathrooms She says this is not the first time that Garam Investment. This is the rea- well as land consultancy. She also the poor. Casual workers in the area and toilets and more established public amenities had become subject son why I will fight for a hospital in runs three boutiques in the city cen- cannot access affordable housing due market structures to cater for the to controversy. the area,” she says adding that this tre. to poor earnings. growing population in the area is key incident was the beginning of her “I also run a support programme “I hope to push for affordable in her agenda. Nominations political walk. for people living with HIV and Tu- housing for the low income earners Isabella Lenah Nzingi who is Nzingi has been at the forefront berculosis at Dipsy slum with my as there is plenty of land in the area,” Choice vying for the county representative of advocating for people’s rights. friend Edna Ratemo. Every two Nzingi assures. “Westlands market has not been Parklands Highridge Ward under The first born in a family of five, she weeks we donate rice, flour and milk She would like to see a primary completed and this is interfering the National Vision Party. She was is confident that women, if given a to the survivors,” she explains. boarding school constructed in the with trade in the constituency,” she unopposed during the nominations. chance can make a big difference in Most of these people used to area for the low income earning par- says. In 2010, Highridge Dispensary, the society. get the support from the dispensary ents. She believes this will promote Nzingi is certain she is the peo- the only public health facility in the “I believe that political interfer- that was demolished. If funded, Nz- quality education. ple’s choice. On what makes her area was brought down in a case of ence is a key player in the sale of pub- ingi says, she would be able to run “The schools also need to have stand out from her competitors is fraudulent deals. lic amenities in my area,” she says. the programme on a full time basis. staff housing quarters, this way the that, she has negotiating power and “A nurse at the facility who is Her walk in the political land- However, she promises to support it students are able to get extra help as is always ready to fight for the people. also my good friend called to inform scape has not been an easy journey. with her salary once elected. the teachers will be readily available,” “I am keen on uplifting the lives me that they were bringing down She observes that financial challeng- Nzingi is passionate about observes Nzingi. She adds: “I will of the community by bringing a bal- the hospital. When I went there, the es and patriarchy have played a big healthcare that is accessible and af- also push to have more day second- ance between the rich and the poor. bulldozers had already started de- role in denying women leadership. fordable for her people. She says the ary schools in the area.” In one word, I know I am a woman molition work. I tried to seek audi- “Men have become resistant and area needs a well-equipped referral Parklands Highridge Ward is rich of the people.”

Faith Maumoh set to battle it out with giants in Busia …By Leonard Acharry is for me to represent these great thermore, I pledge to keep a watch- people as Busia County Senator,” ful eye on any and all revenue that is he is one of the few women in she observes. allocated to Busia County for its de- Kenya who have come out to velopment and ensure that it is spent exercise their constitutional Studies for the intended purpose, which is right and vie for an elective A widow with three daughters, for the service and betterment of the seat.S Maumoh was born on December people’s lives,” she notes. And because she believes in her- 27, 1972. She attained her second- As Senator of Busia County, Mau- self, Faith Maumoh did not go for a ary education at Mukumu Girls’ moh pledges to keep the interests of lesser seat but decided to gunner for High School then pursued her the people of Busia at heart, to act as the top most, the Senator’s position in post-secondary studies at Kianda a guide and mentor towards political, Busia County. College and later Strathmore Uni- social and economic development. She is the only woman in the race versity where she learned leader- among two gentlemen, former At- ship and management. Youth torney General Amos Wako and the She has worked in various ca- “With the help of the youth as well outgoing Nambale MP Chris Okemo, pacities in the private sector as an as men and women of Busia County, both of whom boast of financial mus- administrator and programme of- I would wish to tap into the innova- cle, many followers and big names. ficer, and in the course of her work tiveness, talent, experience and ener- In several of her rallies in the experience, she has set up and gies of all in order to transform Busia County recently, Maumoh took issue strengthened institutions within to be the model county of Kenya,” with the duo whom she accused of and outside Kenya to increase their Maumoh explains. She observes: “We failing to develop the region while in capacity to receive and account for can only prosper when we are all in their previous capacities and champi- donor funding. it together, when hard work pays off oning ‘money politics’ without put- As a business lady, Maumoh and responsibility is rewarded, and ting County and its people at heart. has interacted and provided em- when everyone from Busia to Mom- ployment to hundreds of young basa does their fair share and play by Retire people for a long period, an expe- the same rules.” She called on them to retire and rience which has confirmed to her However, just like other young allow youthful leaders like herself to that the youth of this country have people and women aspirants, Mau- take up leadership and the County to immense passion for work, are moh has faced a number of chal- the next level. able and willing but lack opportu- lenges including chauvinistic men- “The people I am contesting with nities, mentorship. tality from men who believe a are like my father. I want to tell them She notes that the youth need woman should and can only run for it is prudent they go home and rest to grow their level of education the Women Representative position and leave us take up leadership,” says and capacity if they are to compete and not the senate or governor. Maumoh. She notes: “Every day they on local or international platforms. However, the Narc-Kenya aspi- tell us youths are leaders of tomorrow This has also given her a chance rant appreciates that many people and I think tomorrow is now and we to sell her manifesto to Busia resi- have listened as she sells her policies are ready to lead.” dents, which is to create more jobs in the rallies especially those that she Maumoh stresses that Kenya’s for the youth and empower the organised when Martha Karua, Narc growth blue print, Vision 2030, lies in people economically and socially. Kenya Presidential hopeful toured the hands of young people across the “In August 2010, Kenyans Busia County last year. board and that for any country and promulgated a new Constitution “As a Senator, I pledge to be county to grow economically, socially which created counties along with truthful and faithful in executing my and politically, young people must their respective governments. As duties and uphold the Constitution of contribute. the Senator of Busia County, I Kenya,” She states. “I vote for a bet- “My own contribution to the pledge to act as the people’s watch- ter Busia, a better Kenya and a gen- implementation of both the Consti- man in ensuring that the Central eration that makes future generations tution and Vision 2030 for a greater Government pays adequate atten- “I will ensure that Busia County and without the Government to en- proud of what we do and this is the Busia County and a greater Kenya tion to the counties,” she explains. receives sufficient funds from within able development in the county. Fur- very first step.” Issue Number 35 • February 2013 9 Rebecca Otachi: Only woman standing for National Assembly in Kisii County …By Ben Oroko Otachi is focusing on poverty al- was the regional project administrator leviation through creation of wealth, overseeing 30 projects at Pathfinder In- ebecca Kwamboka Otachi youth unemployment and job creation ternational African Regional Office, a is running for the seat of to reduce the rising culture of depen- donor agency providing services in the Member of Parliament for dency among majority of the constitu- area of family planning as well as HIV the newly created Kitutu ents. and Aids. ChacheR North Constituency in the Ki- Education for children and youth A trained and qualified secretary, sii County. from poor backgrounds are also fea- she has widely travelled in Africa and She will be on the ballot paper in turing in her campaigns as part of the attended Commonwealth develop- the forthcoming General Election on efforts towards enhancing human re- ment conferences during which she Farmers Party ticket. source development in the constituency. been recognised as one of the “wom- Otachi is not new to the Kitutu Another area of focus is access to en’s change agent” in Kenya. Chache parliamentary politics. She quality health care services to all resi- Otachi is seeking leadership based first contested the parliamentary seat dents in the constituency. She argues on her long cherished dream of deliv- in 2007 on Kenya African Democratic that a growing and developing nation ering a promise of servant leadership Development Union (KADDU) party depends on a healthy population to and alternative voice of reason to the ticket. provide the required manpower for sus- community. Today her strong campaign points tainable socio-economic development. are based on the fact that she is the only Otachi’s leadership qualities cut Vulnerable woman competing for Member of Par- across many fields. Her interaction “I am seeking political leadership, liament seat against 13 male candidates with people from other cultures in to offer an alternative leadership to the she also acquired her Master of Arts ensuring accountability, transparency in Kitutu Chache North Constituency Africa and international community community considering that among (MA) in Rural Sociology and Com- and community participation through and the whole of Kisii County. places her in a position of a local leader Kenya’s development stakeholders, munity Development. She is currently community monitoring and social with a global vision. women are considered among the vul- working on her doctorate proposal in budgeting process. Representative Her position, as the national chair- nerable group that include children, Social Planning. “Majority of the candidates for the person of a women’s network that ad- youth, persons with disabilities as well Professionally, Otachi is a commu- Women other five elective positions are men. I dresses human dignity of the disadvan- as marginalised and minorities in soci- nity development consultant with over Otachi is the chairperson Kenya trust that women can be keen to have taged groups in society gives her the ety,” explains Otachi. 25 years in project management and Women of Faith Network, treasurer one of them as their representative advantage of handling the leadership She challenges women to exercise gender issues in the civil society. Kenya Women Empowerment Or- in the 11th Parliament through their role of the Constituency with confi- their constitutional right and exploit She holds several certificates in ganization since 2010 and served as vote,” observes Otachi. dence. opportunities coming with the new financial management, monitoring coordinator to the Truth Justice and She attributes her academic quali- constitution to vote for fellow women and evaluation, planning and capacity Reconciliation Commission (TJRC) in fication on sociology (study on human Accessible seeking various leadership positions to building, social budgeting and moni- statement-taking in Kisii and Nyamira behaviour) and rural community de- Citing Chapter Six of the Consti- enhance their chances of representa- toring, transformative leadership, gov- counties. velopment as one of her strong cam- tution, Otachi says, she passes the in- tion at all levels of leadership and gov- ernance and advocacy, para-legalism, Otachi participated in sensitising paign points arguing that a member tegrity threshold as provided for in the ernance. rule of law and human rights concepts. the Kenyan citizenry on the current of the National Assembly’s role besides law, since she is trustworthy, commit- “I strongly believe, I have the de- constitution in Kisii, Meru, Ukambani, legislation shall involve assisting the ted, reliable, honest, humble, compas- velopment experience and academic Leadership Kuria, and Siaya. community to come up with viable de- sionate, sociable and can be accessed qualifications that will enable me She is encouraging women to ac- She established a revolving fund for velopment projects. by all the constituents regardless of transform the constituency’s develop- tively participate in seeking both elec- four social support groups for Persons “My past contribution to the con- their status in society. ment agenda,” reiterates Otachi. tive and appointive positions provided Living with HIV and Aids (PLWHA) stituency and county at large cuts Otachi is the Executive Director Otachi, 58, started her education for in the constitution. She observes and a Sacco for a women’s group in across the community’s issues that of Linkages for Integrated Commu- Mosobeti DOK Primary School be- that shying away from those constitu- Kayole Nairobi known as Naomi Self- need to be addressed through the three nity Services (LINKS), a local non- fore proceeding to Ogande Girls’ High tional leadership positions translates Help Group in Nairobi Kayole Slum. pillars of Kenya’s Vision 2030,” Otachi governmental organisation (NGO) School for her “O” levels from where to gender inequalities in elective and Through her initiative, members explains. She adds: “I strongly believe that focuses on capacity building and she attained second division. She then public appointments. of the women’s group bought land on that if I have done so much on my own economic empowerment for groups in joined Kipsigis Girls’ High School for Her key goal and commitment to which they intend to build a multi- initiative, given a chance, and with the rural and slum settlement areas. She her “A” levels. She was admitted for a the constituency, Otachi discloses, is purpose centre that will also include a participation of all the constituents, to- brings to the constituency a proven Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in Soci- to encourage a culture of transforma- vocational training school and home gether, we shall take the community to leadership experience of over 25 years. ology and Communication at the Uni- tive leadership that will enhance qual- for the sexually abused children from another level of development.” Prior to joining LINKS, Otachi versity of Nairobi (UoN), from where ity of life for her fellow constituents by Nairobi’s informal settlements. Wavinya Ndeti ready to make history for the second time …By Liz Nene the seat and opted to give the ticket to the then but lost the slot to former Government spokes- sitting MP Peter Kyalo Kaindi. man Dr Alfred Mutua. he “never say die” rightly applies to For Wavinya, this was betrayal and al- Also competing for the nomination is Sports Assistant minister Wavinya though it devastated her, it did not kill the re- former cabinet minister Mutua Katuku who Ndeti, who is out to make history for solve to make her dreams come true in politics. was seeking the Governor’s seat on the Wiper the second time round in five years. “I knew that the electorate wanted me and Democratic Party ticket. TNdeti, who is the outgoing MP for Kathi- I vowed not to let them down, so I looked for There is also Jimmy Mumina of the UDF ani in Machakos County has now turned her an alternative and God opened the window for party, Engineer Titus Ndundu and a former interest in the race for the Governor’s position me on the other side,” she says. Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ke- against a handful of men some of whom are She knocked at the door of the Chama nya, Thomas Kibua. seen as a force to reckon with. Cha Uzalendo (CCU) and it gave her a ticket. In 2007, the tough-talking MP made history Armed with that ticket, Wavinya plunged into Expert by beating nine male rivals to clinch the cov- the campaign trail and confronted nine male Wavinya who is a London trained Infor- eted parliamentary seat bordering with Nairobi aspirants including Kaindi. mation Technology expert, who was among County though a little known party while Or- ODM-Kenya, which was then associated the very first women to introduce ICT in the ange Democratic Movement –Kenya (ODM-K) with Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka was the country. She says she is not yet through with wave was pushing in the Ukambani region. party of choice in the region and many thought politics because “leadership is in my blood”. that Wavinya was fighting a losing battle since Wavinya is a member of the Kenya Women Bold Musyoka was also a presidential candidate. Parliamentary Association. She has been an Her supporters and admirers describe her However, the ‘never-say-die’ leader defied Assistant Minister for Youth and Sports since as “bold and straight forward” going by her the odds and the Kalonzo-led ODM-Kenya 2008. Before joining politics, she was the Man- results-based management style of politics. wave and went ahead to win to become the aging Director of Onix Computer Services. Indeed, Wavinya has lived up to that de- first woman ever to be elected MP in Macha- Shea holds a Master of Science degree in scription and is the only female candidate for a kos County since independence. Business Analysis and Design from the City Governor’s seat in the entire Eastern Province. The ever-confident Wavinya, was born in University, United Kingdom. She also holds For past five years that she has been in poli- In the run up to the 2007 General Elec- November 6, 1967 and is determined to score a Master of Science in Business Administra- tics, Wavinya has shown that she is no push over. tion all indications were that she was going to another first by becoming the first woman tion and Marketing, from Heirotwatt Univer- When things did not go on as per her plans, she clinch the ODM-Kenya nomination ticket for Governor in Machakos County. sity, United Kingdom. She received her BSc in always looks for an alternative, which more of- the Kathiani Parliamentary seat. However, the During the recent political party’s nomina- Computer Science in 1994 from South Bank ten than not turns out in her favour. ODM-Kenya leadership had other plans for tions, she faced off with six male candidates University. 10 Issue Number 35 • February 2013

Alice Maitha banks on women to win Mombasa Senate seat …By Liz Nene during and after elections.” observes Maitha. According to Maitha, women should “There are those who say they can- lice Mbozde Maitha plunged not be threatened or shaken by anything not be ruled by a widow because she into politics after the death of and must not turn back but match for- may become unruly, run away from her late husband former Lo- ward to display their prowess and ability home, and despised her husband’s fam- cal Government Minister and to rule. ily. This, I think is extreme because for AKisauni MP Karisa Maitha. “Women lead with motherhood but me I did not run away since my hus- It was from him that she learnt the most men often change from being fa- band died in 2005. game of politics and views him as her po- thers to dictators,” she notes. Again, I did not plan to become a wid- litical role model. She says he motivated Maitha has done a lot of work within ow, so why should I be denied my consti- her in his advocacy for the rights of Coast her community which she believes should tutional rights because of being a widow?” people at large mostly on issues of land make her a favourite. she poses. and other violations directed to indig- Maitha registered a non-governmen- enous people. Health tal organisation by the name Palm Inter- “This alone made me her admire his She was involved in the refurbish- national that deals with processing of Co- politics and nurture the dream of want- ing Utange Health Centre in Kisauni to a conut products. ing to become a politician one day,” says maternity and dental clinic and handed it “Through the organisation, I was Maitha. over to the City Council of Mombasa. She among those who lobbied for the forma- Maitha is vying for the position of also financed the rehabilitation of Shanzu tion of Kenya Coconut Development Au- Senator in Mombasa County under The Good Hope Orphanage and equipped it thority in 2007. Now the locals can benefit National Alliance (TNA) party to fulfil with utensils. from mnazi (coconut) unlike before,” she the goals of her late husband. Maitha has successfully flown over says. 2,000 women to work in a fish industry Maitha is a professional secretary with Gender in Seychelles where they making a living a Diploma Certificate from Coast College Maitha has no doubts about winning and are able to assist their families back of Commerce. She also holds a diploma the position as long as women will en- home. in Project Management and Community dorse their own gender by turning up in She has also helped several needy stu- Development. large numbers to vote. dents in Mombasa to pay their fees. In the next five years, she sees herself “Education will be my first priority Infrastructure as a mature women’s leader with great ex- mostly for the less fortunate followed by “Currently I am in business and man- posure in politics to qualify for a second security, infrastructure and poverty eradi- age my private audit firm in Malindi. I term. cation. I hope once I succeed with those have a good understanding of city modi- Maitha believes that by then she will priorities other issues will flow by them- fication, infrastructure development, have transformed the lives of her peo- selves,” says Maitha governance and leadership that I attained ple. She notes that the biggest challenge while attending educational tours with “I am asking my fellow women, youth for any woman aspirant in Mombasa is my late husband in Seychelles, Britain, and men to scrutinise all leaders and en- resources. She observes that most people New Jersey, France, China, South Africa sure that they vote those with integrity are still in the bondage of bribery and cor- and Cameroon,” she explains. and leadership skills for the progress of ruption. With that expertise, she is confident it our county,” she says. She urges: “I also ap- “It is likely that people will be bribed will assist her to serve Mombasa residents peal to everyone including my opponents during election and vote for wrong repre- and help the city of Mombasa regain its to maintain peace and sobriety before, sentation locking out dedicated women,” lost glory. Charity Kaluki Ngilu upsets political waters in the Senatorial race …By John Syengo constituents. Ngilu joined politics in velopment or lifting the welfare of Kitui 1992 and has remained MP for Kitui people. It is a lesson I have learned and arc party leader Charity Central until now. I, therefore, do not want us to be out of Kaluki Ngilu is causing Both are credited with good perfor- government for voting wrongly,” Ngilu political ripples in the mance with Musila being nicknamed says. race for the Kitui Senato- Bwana Meko in the local lingo that Ngilu argues that since she was ap- Nrial position. translates to “a gentleman of true ac- pointed to the Cabinet minister by out- Since her belated entry into the race t i o n”. going president Kibaki, she has chan- for the Kitui Senator’s position she has Ngilu on her part is alluded to by neled resources to Kitui to improve joined the defence assistant minister her constituents as “Mama” to denote the lot of the local residents. She has David Musila of the Wipers Demo- her motherly efforts to improve the lot pointed that her stay in the Ministry of cratic Movement Party as the front of he constituents through projects that Health had seen mortality rate reduce. runners in the duel. Ngilu had initially are beneficial to them. “I initiated a programme that saw expressed interest in the presidency be- all homes get mosquito nets to ward off fore backing out and joining the Jubilee Projects the spread of malaria. In the hospitals Alliance where she was offered position However, Ngilu appears to enjoy across the county drugs became avail- of leader of Senate. an assailable advantage over Musila for able and affordable and the distances to Although there are other two con- taking the full advantage of her minis- health facilities reduced as more were testants for the seat Joseph Mwongela terial docket to launch projects across put up in remote areas,” Ngilu argues. Mulwa of Narc-Kenya and Elijah Mui- Kitui County and the Country at large. Another of Ngilu’s strong cam- mi Kilonzi, it is instructive that Ngilu’s She has held the Ministry of Health and paign point is that as the current Water entry, who has been the longest serving the Ministry of Water and Irrigation and Irrigation Minister, she has initi- member of parliament for Kitui Cen- between 2003 to date. ated various water projects across the tral has literally transformed the duel In her campaigns for the Kitui sena- county. She says that each part of Kitui for the senatorial to a two horse races. tor’s position, Ngilu has not shied away County has a borehole, water dam or a from proclaiming that she made good pipeline project courtesy of her efforts. Contest use of her docket as Cabinet minister. Ngilu faces off with Musila who is She has often times pointed out that in Education a popular politician in the local circles the 10 years she was in the opposition Also on her cards, Ngilu has often as he has also served as the MP for the side in parliament; she did nothing tan- argued that she has been instrumental College in Kitui, Kitui Teachers’ Train- learning opportunities for the locals Mwingi South Constituency for the last gible for her people. in the establishment of the South East- ing College and the Kenya Meteoro- but they have also improved the econ- 15 years. She has openly touted herself as the ern Unversity College (that will get its logical College. omy for the locals. She says the circula- As members of parliament both best performing minister from Kitui own charter next month) and a con- She says she has used her ministe- tion of money in Kitui has improved as Ngilu and Musila are rated as top per- (County) especially in delivering devel- stituent college of Kenyatta University. rial influence to have the institutions in locals do business with the institutions. formers having initiated and imple- opment projects to the area. Both are located in Kwavonza area. Kitui. Looking at her achievements, Ngilu mented various development projects “In the 10 years I was an opposi- Ngilu prides herself with the estab- Ngilu noted that not only have the says she will do much more across Ki- that are beneficial to their respective tion MP I did nothing in terms of de- lishment of a Kenya Medical Training institutions of learning helped avail tui County if elected Senator. Issue Number 35 • February 2013 11 Women seek to safeguard gains in nominations …By Faith Muiruri and Ruth Omukhango According to Barbara Bangura, the Inter- Situation Room to be owned by the women want it,” observed Oduol. national Coordinator of the Women Situation themselves. She recalled that in 2001 during the Consti- s Kenyans gear up for the March 4 Room and Peace and Conflict Expert from Sier- She emphasised the need for focussed coor- tution review, women were able to organise and General Elections, questions still ra Leone, the Women Situation Room is a peace dination as critical in ensuring the success dur- influence the constitutional making process. abound on how to harmonise on- building process that mobilizes women and ing the electioneering period. “For instance, they would meet with different going strategies to increase the level youth to play an active and direct role in sustain- She reiterated that although Kenya has leaders of political parties and religious organisa- Aof women representation and ensure their pro- ing peace during elections through observation made tremendous progress in terms of legisla- tions to push for the inclusion of women gains in tection against electoral violence. and rapid responses to incidents as and when tion, regulation and creation of institutions, this the Constitution,” she adds. While approaches to increase the level of they occur. has not translated to any meaningful outcome. women representation in elective positions have “Although this initiative will address the In this case, the Women Situation Room called Issues been intensified, harmonisation of on-going ef- gender disparities, it does not function alone for deliberate and strategic roles that determine “During the constitutional making pro- forts is critical to avoid dissipation of impact. but complements traditional observation mech- direction in the best interest of Kenyan women. cess, when there was an impasse, women were With only seven per cent of women cleared by anisms by analysing data and information com- “There is a general feeling that although Ke- able to coalesce and organize around issues but the Independent Electoral and Boundary Com- ing from the field and providing early warning nya has made tremendous progress in the area they were extremely strategic because they were mission (IEBC) to contest for parliamentary and, most critically, response to election related of legislations, demonstrating outcomes are still aware of the delicate balance that needed to be seats, the need to safeguard these gains is ex- incidents,” said Faith Kasiva, National Coordi- wanting,” noted Oduol. filled,” explained Oduol. tremely essential to ensure women do not lose nator Women’s Situation Room Kenya. In order to address the interests of the dy- The same sentiments were echoed by Win- out because of violence. Kasiva emphasised that being a process, the namic regions, she called for the Women Situa- nie Lichuma, Chair of the National Gender and “Statistics have shown that only seven per Women Situation Room will, therefore, bring tion Room to be established in other parts of the Equality Commission (NGEC) who emphasised cent of women candidates have been cleared by together various stakeholders who include the country to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in on the need for Kenyan women to set up their the IEBC to compete for parliamentary seats. National Women’s Steering Committee, team monitoring the elections. own agenda and hence strategic and focussed This leaves us with very few women compared of eminent persons, government institutions as Oduol mentioned that unlike the other coordination. to the nine per cent in the last parliament,” ex- well as the media. countries within the East African region namely She added that some of these strategies in- plained Deborah Okumu, Chair of the National According to Bangura, uniqueness of the Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi who are explor- cluded the need for mechanisms to support Women Steering Committee. Women Situation Room is rested in the fact ing ways of coming up with a National Women women candidates in order to realise the desired that this initiative goes beyond merely observ- Council, Kenya not only has a Ministry of Gen- numbers. “If we do not realise numbers, we will Peace ing elections to responding rapidly to threats der, Children and Social Development but also not have achieved our goals,” said Lichuma. She Okumu was speaking at the launch of the or incidents of violence as and when they are a constitutional framework which gave room for added: “We must align our priorities towards the Women Situation Room, an initiative which reported as well as the fact that it uses a two creation of the National Gender and Equality realisation of our goals. At moment we have frag- aims at monitoring, highlighting and address- level of diplomacy through which its eminent Commission. mented our efforts and we are doing worse than ing electoral violence. For the first time, Kenya women can reach the powers to resolve issues Despite these gains, she cautioned women’s b e fore .” is replicating a Women’s Situation Room (WSR) or threats of violence as and when they are re- organisation to make strategic moves by making The National Gender and Equality Com- for the March 2013 elections having been imple- ported. use of the already existing institutions to avoid mission mandate includes promoting gender mented under the Angie Brooks International Professor Jacqueline Oduol, Permanent disjointed efforts which are likely to yield spar- equality and freedom from discrimination in Centre (ABIC) during the Liberia Presidential Secretary in the Ministry of Gender, Children ingly low numbers. accordance with Article 27 of the Constitution and Legislative Elections in 2011 and replicated and Social Development, lauded the noble ini- “We cannot create a machinery and indicate which promotes the equality and freedom from in Senegal and Sierra Leone. tiative but said there is need for the Women like it is important then we look like we do not discrimination principles. Aspirants lament use of huge funds in campaigns …By Yusuf Amin

omen aspirants in Kilifi County have expressed fear of being locked out of leadership positions ifW voters place more value on monetary gifts during campaign periods. Following the recent political par- ties’ nominations, women say men were using huge amounts of money compared to women aspirants who did not have resources for their campaigns. According to Ephi Chari, who is aspiring for the Kilifi North Constitu- ency seat through Kaddu-Asili, this campaign period has seen women facing a lot of challenges including lack of funds for their campaigns. She urged human rights organisations to intervene and assist in exposing the vice. Chari noted that men outran wom- en in the campaigns by having many people attend their meetings because they have a lot of money to organise rallies and this will enable them get more votes. CHARI: Women aspirants have good campaign strategy but lacks money Intervention “The Independent Electoral and “If voters focus on money, good an who has come out to compete with security personnel to monitor and give problem in time. Boundaries Commission (IEBC) leaders will be locked out of county six men who are using a lot of money us security so that we can compete fair- Naomi Cidi, who is battling for the should intervene by controlling the governments,” observed Dzombo. in their campaigns,” she says. ly with men,” she reiterates. Senate position through the Shirikisho amount of money being spent in the She is battling with Ken Chonga, Born in 1956, Chari’s dream has The aspirants urged voters in the Party said that although men were us- campaigns so that women can also Wanyepe Mrima, Shedrack Lewa and been to be a leader who will represent county to lock out leaders who have ing a lot of money, she will beat them in have a chance to equally ask for votes Ben Gunda among others and is confi- her people in Parliament. She is confi- been in leadership positions for too the race. in the county,” urged Chari. She added: dent of winning the elections. dent that this will come to pass through long time without rescuing the resi- Cidi who has been campaigning in “Organisations advocating for women’s Addressing the media after attend- the support she is getting. dents of Kilifi from extreme poverty. Kilifi County said that the nominations leadership should also come out and ing a political rally, Chari who has “Men who are traditionalists say An aspirant for county ward rep- were just an indication of the beginning help women battle with men to ensure initiated various community develop- that a woman should not lead the con- resentative Linet Shaha noted that of new leadership under the new con- good leadership.” ment projects in the constituency said stituents but women’s groups and vil- top leaders do not regard councillors stitution. Her sentiments were echoed by she has the potential to engage her lage elders have ganged up to support as important and asked them to unite She is battling it out with Prof Chen- Rachael Dzombo who is vying for constituents in projects that will reduce me as it is my constitutional right,” she since it is them who are close to the lo- je Mwachiro, former Cabinet Minister the Kilifi South parliamentary seat poverty that has been a major bottle- says. cal people. Noah Katana Ngala, Morris Dzoro and through Narc Kenya. neck in the county for many years. With the little resources in her Shaha who is vying on a Kaddu Stewart Madzayo among others. Dzombo urged the electorate not Through her leadership experience hand, Chari has been conducting Asili party ticket asked Sokoni Ward She urged Kenyans to support to vote for the money factor but to con- which she has exercised since she was door-to-door campaigns searching residents to vote for her so that she can women since they can tackle many sider credible leadership. at Kenyatta University from where she for votes daily. She has not shied away fight for their rights. She promised to problems that they have been facing She said that the nominations graduated Bachelor of Education de- from doing the same at night although change the face of Kilifi. within their families. were faced with a lot of irregularities gree, Chari is confident that she will her main worry is insecurity. She blamed men for luring voters Cidi urged voters not to be mes- because voters in the area were being also emerge winner in the elections. “Women face challenges with night with money and urged human rights merised by men who have a lot of mon- lured with money. “In this battle, I am the only wom- campaigns compared to men. I urge organisations to come in and tackle the ey but will fail to deliver when in power. 12 Issue Number 35 • February 2013 Judiciary assures women candidates on election related violence …By Waikwa Maina ing their cases after their witnesses are threatened. This has remained a major challenge in dispensing he Judiciary in partnership with other justice, which encourages political violence against stakeholders has initiated a number of women,” said Omondi. She reiterated: “I can assure programmes to protect women against women and perpetrators of such crimes that it is any form of violence during the elec- no longer business as usual, they will all get justice tioneeringT period. and I encourage them to pursue justice when ag- Among them is protection of witnesses who grieved.” will testify in court on elections related crime and dispute cases. Judicial officers are also under in- Constitution struction to be more gender sensitive while han- Some legal technicalities that have been over- dling political gender violence cases. taken by time have also been addressed and judicial “We have no specific laws protecting women officers including researchers have been trained on in political violence but we have the criminal pe- how to handle and address such technicalities in nal code which will be applied together with other accordance with the Constitution. election law and acts,” said Lady Justice Helen Any political disputes and violence related Omondi, a member of the Judicial Working Com- cases must be handled and determined before mittee on Elections Preparation. the elections date, which will give the Judiciary enough time to handle electoral disputes arising Judicial officials from Nyeri Law courts attending a pre-election Rights from the General Election. training. Inset: Lady Justice Helen Omondi. “Our officers have been trained on gender and Hearing of all election disputes will be settled election matters and they are fully prepared to pro- within six months after the elections and some tect the rights of the women including aspirants, judicial officers have been appointed for this pur- pects to face in elections related matters is in- hensive training on elections issues which will their campaign agents and supporters,” Omondi pose. crease of a number of cases due to increased be very useful in dispensation of justice. We are explained. She added: The judiciary posts magistrates and judges to number of political positions to contested. fully prepared for the elections even at the con- “The law and courts will protect them against all parts of the country to handle the disputes and The number of aggrieved parties seeking legal re- stituency and county levels,” noted Mwangi. He any discrimination and they are encouraged to other elections related cases including the margin- dress could also rise due to increased public confi- added: “Involvement of magistrates in handling campaign without fear of intimidation from any- alized areas to ensure effective and timely dispen- dence in the Judiciary. the disputes will ensure that electoral matters on e .” sation of justice. According to Omondi, the Judiciary antici- are heard in good time and this will save a lot of Omondi noted that the Judiciary, office of Omondi said that women are more vulnerable pates to handle a minimum of 500 elections related time and resources and no one has any reason the Director of Public Prosecution and the police especially due to primitive social cultural practices cases. not to seek legal redress now.” are working as a team to ensure that security of during the electioneering period but the Judiciary Gichugu Law Courts principal magistrate Gichugu in Kirinyaga County is among women was guaranteed during the electioneering will be more keen and extra careful on gender re- Muraguri Mwangi said unlike in the past, judicial hotspots due to the re-emergence of Mungiki period. lated violence during the electioneering period officers are now fully prepared to handle election criminal gang, which normally takes advantage of “We are also discussing on modalities of wit- and thereafter. matters. election campaigns to harass, intimidate or engage ness protection. Many women get scared of pursu- Among the challenges that the Judiciary ex- “Judicial officers have undergone compre- in other criminal activities. Technology ropes in citizens Lack of civic education to blame for in election monitoring political party nomination failures …By Faith Muiruri mwananchi in election monitoring as they are a valuable source of information. …By Valentine Atieno we sit back and cheat ourselves that serve as good leaders”, she notes. enyans can now actively par- “With tools and information available, all is okay then we shall be lying to The nominations were total ticipate in the entire electoral the Uchaguzi platform transforms every group of women aspi- ourselves, we believe so much in sham since most people were rigged process through a citizen pow- Kenyan into an election observer and in rants in Kisumu County money more so in Nyanza regions in by voters who were transported ered electoral monitoring tool turn election observers will be able to veri- have urged the electoral where money and politics are in- from one place to the other to vote thatK responds to observation. fy the information depending on the loca- commission to roll out separable,” Salim. for the well to do male opponents. The tool dubbed Uchaguzi is being co- tions,” stressed Wambua Kawive, Executive Acivic education in various Coun- Another factor that makes it im- “I had to stop activities at one of ordinated through an ICT platform which Secretary, Constitution and Reform Edu- ties ahead of the coming March 4th possible for women to secure politi- the polling stations from conducting enables Kenyans to keep an eye on the cation Consortium (CRECO). General Elections. cal seats is enmity amongst women. the business because the returning vote. It provides avenues through which According to Daudi Were, Projects Di- The women who lost seats they Women do not like other women officer was removing voters from the they can report any incidences significant rector at Ushahidi, by amplifying the voices contested for during the party nomi- prospering and this makes them not queue to go act as the clerks in the to the election. of ordinary citizens, Uchaguzi allows citi- nation primaries said that the big- vote for. exercise which was against the rule The platform has been designed to zens to continue to play a positive role in gest challenge they faced was lack of “The challenge that women as- of the exercise,” Hamis notes. allow the public to use a wide range of elections before and after voting. knowledge by their audience on the pirants overcome is that they are technology at their disposal, from mobile “Uchaguzi mobilizes citizens to be di- various posts that the devolved gov- competing with male opponents Entry phones to send information to Uchaguzi rectly involved in protecting their vote and ernment brought forth. who have money and this really She observes that on the day via text on 3002, Twitter: follow@uchaguzi electoral process,” Were explains. Farida Akhmed Salim who lost brings women down because when- of the nominations when she was and through Face book page facebook. He says that measures have been put the seat for ODM Kisumu Central ever they go for a rally, the peoples walking in with her body guards, com/UchaguziKenya2013. in place to verify information received and parliamentary also a civic educator expectation is that at the end of they were discriminated against and The initiative seeks to promote free, transmit the same to the relevant govern- for Shaurimoyo ward said that in the rally you dish out money and denied entry yet no male opponents fair, peaceful and credible general election ment agencies and monitor the response. her constituency, majority of people if you don’t give they will tell you have experience this before and they and will help to increase transparency and Approach were not aware of what a Governor that them they deal with those with too have bodyguards. accountability through active citizen par- or Senator means though they were money,” Salim adds. The aspirants were speaking ticipation in the electoral cycles. The Uchaguzi has roped in civil society interested in voting. Nadhifu Yusuf Hamis who was during a peace meeting organized The election monitoring tool is a joint organisations, the Independent Electoral vying for Kaloleni Shaurimoyo by Peace Initiative Kenya (PIK) for initiative between the Social Develop- and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), Initiative Kisumu Central Ward on an ODM media encounter between women ment Network (SODNET), Ushahidi, Elections Observers Group (ELOG), peace She said that leaders who are ticket said that the party officials on aspirants and journalists in Jumuia CRECO and Hivos Foundation with sup- and youth networks, global humanitarian running for Governor and Senator the ground categorised aspirants Hotel, Kisumu. port from the Canadian International digital agencies and volunteer community seats in different Counties should into three hence some were viewed The meeting helped women Development Agency (CIDA). groups through the stand by task force. take the initiative of educating the as non-performers. aspirants who lost in nominations Space The law enforcement agencies, inter- people they are to serve on what it “There were members, owners to air out their challenges and find national organisations and diplomatic mis- all entails so that those who vote and followers. Women were catego- a way of forging forward despite “Uchaguzi seeks to expand the space sions will also be engaged in the initiative. will vote wisely and make informed rized into followers and I was ones their loss. Uchaguzi technology has been built by for free expression and freedom of speech decisions. asked what I have done for ODM as According to PIK Coordinator Ushahidi which is a non-profit technology and to strengthen citizen engagement as “I had a big challenge running a party to qualify me as a ward rep- Ms. Jane Godia, the women aspi- essential ingredients for an open, demo- company in Kenya which develops open- as parliamentary aspirant and at the resentative”, says Hamis. rants were frustrated because Inde- source software for information collection, cratic and pluralistic society,” says Gregg same time doing civic education for pendent Electoral Boundary Com- visualization and interactive mapping. Mwendwa, Coordinator of ICT Election the people at the grassroots. Despite Confusion mission (IEBC) officials were not Watch Africa, Hivos. Ushahidi builds tools for democratiz- the time I spared to educate people According to her this made mat- alert on the grounds where male as- The platform perceives the electoral ing information, increasing transparency in my Constituency on civic mat- ters worse on the ground as the alien- pirants threatened some women and process as a permanent and recurrent cycle and lowering the barriers for individuals ters, the male rivals still dominated ations confused the voters more with even gave out handouts to voters so in which every stage and not just the Elec- to share their stories. by bribing voters on the election some voters confusing women aspi- that they could be voted in. tion Day counts. Following its launch in 2008 during days, a thing which is unheard of rants for ODM campaigners. Godia urged the public to change Uchaguzi facilitates collaboration the post-election violence in Kenya, the amongst women aspirants.” Both the aspirants said that be- their attitude towards female aspi- between the citizens, election observers, initiative has been used in 159 countries According to her politics is ing Muslims was a challenge to rants because they too have space in humanitarian response agencies, civil which include Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, very clean game but people in it them as their religious leaders called the society. society, community based organisations, United States of America, India, Lebanon tend to make it look dirty because law enforcement agencies and digital hu- and Mexico among others. them aside and urged them to back “The issue of voters asking a for one if you are money minded manitarian agencies to monitor elections The March 4 General Election will off for the male competitors who female aspirant the whereabouts of and thinks that all to do with poli- in real time. be the second time Uchaguzi will be de- were also Muslims. her husband should stop because Mwendwa says that the goal is to ex- ployed in Kenya. The platform was first tics is money then people will pur- “Civic education can help en- some male aspirants are in the race tend the common practice of the tradi- piloted during the Constitutional refer- sue it that way. lighten residents and religious lead- but such questions are not posed to tional election observation by engaging the endum in 2010. “I always want to give credit ers on gender disparity so that they them and they too are not married,” where it is necessary because when are informed that women can also she adds. Issue Number 35 • February 2013 13 Grassroots leadership has been Orwenyo’s platform …By Ben Oroko She blames the conservative Gusii com- Orwenyo’s campaign is based on six pil- munity customary traditions and values which lar that include education, social justice to wom- “Since my election to Maendeleo ya Wanawake have for many decades denied women from the en, children and vulnerable groups, unemploy- Organisation (MYWO) Nyamira District as the community a chance to occupy various leader- ment among the youth, healthcare, security and chairlady, my leadership prospects have been on ship positions in the society. food security in the county. the winning streak and this has given me an op- If elected, Orwenyo promises to continue Born in 1953 at Monga village, Bomagacho portunity to reach grassroots women directly in pursuing her dream of ensuring that local wom- of West Mugirango constituency in Nyamira addressing their problems,” states Mary Orwe- en occupy their rightful place in society. District, she attended Gekomoni Primary nyo. “The time when women’s role and responsi- School in West Mugirango (1962-1966) before Due to this leadership position, Orwenyo is bilities were perceived to be in the kitchen and moving to Rigena Primary in the then Wan- today contesting Nyamira County Women Rep- taking care of children are long gone. The world jare South Mugirango Constituency in Kisii resentative’s seat on the Progressive Party of Ke- has changed fast, revolutionizing the way things District(1967-1969) from where she sat for her nya (PPK) ticket. used to happen during my grandmother’s life- Certificate of Primary Education (CPE). Orwenyo began her leadership responsibility time,” she observes. by leading a local community-based organisa- Orwenyo notes its time every woman used Education tion, Ritii Women Group in Kiabonyoru location. opportunities offered in the new constitution to She was admitted to Nyanchwa Mixed provide their communities with the long-cher- High School in Kisii where she sat for her ‘O' Elected ished community leadership. level examinations, attaining Division III, be- It was out of this leadership at community Orwenyo set to offer unique leadership by “I do not regret choosing to lead local wom- fore joining Shanzu Teacher’ Training College level that grassroots women in the area identi- empowering women en, something I enjoy doing in my daily life to for her P1 teacher training from 1977-1979. fied her potential and elected her to the post of ensure they get out of political and socio-eco- She was posted to Nyangoge Primary Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation district political dispensation. nomic bondage that they have suffered over the School in North Mugirango-Borabu Con- secretary in 1991, before she rose to the position “My desire to run for the newly-created posi- years,” she says. stituency in Nyamira County and taught in of district chairperson. tion of women representative’s seat in Nyamira Orwenyo decided empower women after several primary schools in the area until her Her service to women through the Maende- County was driven by my grassroots leadership retiring from teaching when she realised that retirement in 2008. Since her retirement, she leo ya Wanawake Organisation gave her a perfect skills which gives me an advantage over my com- women needed her leadership skills to move to has been pursuing leading and empowering opportunity to package herself for the current petitors,” observes Orwenyo. the next level. women. The road to the ballot has not been smooth …By Joyce Chimbi to issues political, though to varying degrees. And the political regime of the day was having sleep- lthough the Kenyan woman earned less nights. her right at independence, sooner “In the run up to 1992, the country’s politi- than many other countries including cal atmosphere was beginning to change. People the developed ones, the power to exer- were agitating for change and challenging the ciseA that right has not always been hers. much feared government of the day,” Ndicho em- In a country where for many years men have phasizes. delegated themselves as custodians of the wom- Ndicho explains that he remembers his an’s National Identity Cards and only releasing it grandmother joining other voters at 3 am. to her keepings under very extenuating circum- “It was a 3 Km journey to the polling stations stances, the road to the ballot has been anything and she was in her late 70’s. But that didn’t deter but smooth. her. I was not old enough to vote, but I remember “The power to vote is inextricably intertwined thinking, when I become of age, I shall never miss with the right to have an identity card. Men do an election. If my old grandmother could do it, so not just keep these identity cards, but they have can I,” he says. for many years made the decision regarding when During this period, more and more women a woman can register to vote, where to register, begun to present themselves to the electorate to whether to vote or not, and for whom,” explains be elected leaders. There are those who made it. People registering for the coming General Elections. Women have had it rough in chosing Jane Gakii, a gender expert in Nairobi. In 1974, the Kalenjin community elected Philom- leaders of their choice. Women empowerment is all encompassing ena Chelagat Mutai, then a 24-year-old student at and speaks to such critical matters as to whether the University of Nairobi to parliament. a woman can be heard, through her vote or not. Although the woman politician was fairly rar- a young woman running for president were ev- women. While 7.5 million were men, women Voting is a critical exercise in any country, it er as many shied away from defying a society that erywhere in their sleepy Ikinu town, Kiambu accounted for 6.7 million. This time, the women is how citizens get heard, understand and make was strongly patriarchal, the woman voter begun County. came out in large numbers. decisions that affect their lives in significant ways. to emerge. “Although the number of women voters, or Since electoral processes are not simply about Although Kenya held its first multiparty gen- rather registered to vote had skyrocketing, the the general elections, but also referendum exer- eral election in 1992, there had been other elec- Leadership power to decide who to vote for was not at the cises where Kenyans make decisions regarding tions before under the highly controversial one “During those days, a woman vying was seen woman’s discretion. Men exercised a significant critical issues of national interest such as to accept party rule. as a bad example to other women. Men were any- amount of power over the women in their lives or refuse a proposed Constitution, in the 2011 ref- In 1963, Kenya held its first ever election that thing but welcoming to women with political am- as it appertains to voting,” says Gladys Nzioki, a erendum to vote for the Constitution that is now gave the country its first government. Under the bitions,” Gakii explains. community leader. in place. supervision of the British colonial rule, in May of Still, these women send a strong message to In the 2002 general elections, Kenyans seemed Out of the 12.6 million registered voters for the 1963, Kenyans were heard and Mzee Jomo Ke- the society and to their fellow women. to have had their fill of the government of the referendum, 49 percent were women. Men took nyatta became the country’s first president. Women began making a connection between day. Politicians came together under the NARC the remaining 51 percent. “Under the one party rule, voting was not a se- the standard of living, their plight, and the chal- dream wave. While women presented themselves This was announced by the then Interim Inde- cret. It was during the at times comical Mlolongo lenges that faced them, and political leadership. for elective positions in large numbers, the wom- pendent Electoral Commission (IIEC) chairman system where the shortest queues often won. Dur- “The pace was slower than expected, but as an voter seemed to have stayed at home. Ahmed Issack Hassan when he released the final ing this era, although women were allowed to vote, the number of women in politics begun to grow, The number of women who registered was tally of voters, who have registered to vote. there was no way they could defy their husbands. If so did that of women voters,” Gakii explains. not as high as expected, especially since women Although a majority of voters are still men, it women have been having it rough under the secret In 1997, to cope with a society that had be- have always accounted for more than half of the is not lost to those alive to the women struggle to ballot, how harder was it then?” poses Dan Ndi- come progressively political and more aware of population. break away from deliberate and sustained patriar- cho, a teacher in an adult institution. the kind of leaders they wanted, the number of Since politics are largely about numbers, it chal systems and other forms of oppressions en- The year 1963 was not exclusive to the only Registration Centers doubled to 12,500 from half was expected that women would take the oppor- trenched in traditions and culture, that the Kenyan open air democracy as the Mlolongo system that number in 1992. tunity that a general election presents, to vote in woman voter has come a long way. came to be known. In 1969, 1974, 1979, 1983, and Data from statistics by the then Electoral leaders who stood for their issues. While women make up an estimated 53 per- 1988, Kenyans queue to cast their vote. Women Commission of Kenyan (ECK), mandated to Leaders who were gender sensitive and had cent of the population, the woman voter remains included, although they largely endorsed the can- oversee the general elections show that the total clear strategies on how to address the challenges still stands at 47 percent which is an indication that didates that their husbands chose. number of registered voters was 8,967,569. The of the Kenyan woman, whether in rural areas, or although the women are moving in the right direc- Men have for many years had their hold on number of men who registered to vote and that of urban. tion, a lot more needs to be done. the women in their lives when it comes to casting women showed a very small disparity. There were 4,985,905 female (47.7 percent) With the Constitution demanding for gender the vote. This is especially so in rural areas. Of them, 47.9 percent were women while 52.1 and 5,827,111 male (52.3 percent) voters. There equality and equity, there is certainly a need for “While in a rural area, if you ask women to percent were men. During this year, two women seemed to be a lull, the numbers were reflective the Kenyan woman to make a choice. produce their national identity card, they will tell joined the presidential race. In 1997, among those of 1997. In fact, fewer women were registered as Times have changed in favor of the Kenyan you that their husbands have it. Men walk around aspiring for president was Prof Wangari Maathai, voters. There was a 0.2 percent drop, which went woman, the socio-political environment has be- villages with their wive’s identity cards in their her bid to capture the top seat was a reflection of to the male voters. come more receptive to her views, the secret bal- breast pockets,” Ndicho explains. the fact that women were breaking out of the pa- According to data by ECK, now defunct, the lot allows her to exercise her choice without fear Over the years though, women empower- triarchal cocoons. percentage of registered women was particularly and or intimidation. ment messages have continued to penetrate vil- She had been joined by Hon Charity Ngilu low in Nairobi province where at only 307,851 reg- It is a powerful tool for her to quietly send a lages and more and more women are to some ex- who became popular with her catchy phrase ‘Ma- istered voters, only 34.8 percent were female. resounding message about who she wants to have tent able to exercise some level of autonomy. saa ni ya Ngilu.” In the 2007 general elections, ECK registered as her leader. At the wake of multiparty democracy in Ke- Ndicho says that he remembers attend- 14.2 million voters. The country had 36 million The road ahead for the woman voter is not yet nya, both men and women, were becoming alive ing Ngilu’s rally. He was a teenager and talks of people at the time. Close to half of them were smooth, but it is smoother than it used to be. 14 Issue Number 35 • February 2013 Campaign to stop gender based violence ahead of the elections launched …By Faith Muiruri

se the ballot, not my body is a slogan that the Coalition on Violence Against Wom- en (COVAW) has coined toU campaign against gender based vio- lence ahead of the elections. The slogan is in recognition of the events that followed the 2007-2008 General Elections in which 1,500 wom- en were raped and infected with HIV. According to Saida Ali, Executive Director COVAW, women’s voices are critical ahead of the elections as they bore the brunt of abuses during the post-election violence. “The violence and horror that rav- aged the country at the height of the 2007-20088 post-election skirmishes remains in our minds, vibrant and chilling,” said Ali during a ceremony to mark the One Billion Rising Dance campaign to stop violence against women at the Central Park in Nairobi. Gender activists demonstrating in the streets of Nairobi against violence against women. students and youth to promote peaceful She said the One Billion Rising elections campaign offers a platform for Kenyan the Independent Electoral Boundaries tions may recur. inent Persons will use mothers to pre- Esther Passaris an aspirant for the women to send a strong message on Commission, Office of the Registrar She said that large numbers of vail upon the youth not to be used as Women Representative seat in Nai- the need to have mechanisms in place of Political Parties, the National Police people who were affected were mostly agents of violence during the elections. robi who attended the launch of the to prevent and respond to sexual and Service, Media Council of Kenya and women and children who are still lan- “We are also appealing to political One Billion Dance campaign wants gender based election violence. all political parties to ensure that no guishing in camps hosting internally players to embrace dialogue to resolve mechanisms established to support “The overwhelmingly negative psy- woman or girl is violated during this displaced persons. any disputes that may arise from the women emotionally, physically and chological, emotional, physical and eco- period. “The real threat and the emerging poll,” reiterated Mayieka. psychologically ahead of the elections. nomic impact on all Kenyans and more The UN Women has already issued trend of violence is not limited to physi- The Team of Eminent Persons is A review conducted by UN Wom- specifically on women during the last a red flag that violence is likely to erupt cal violence but is being perpetuated a key component of the Women Situ- en in 2009 of 21 major peace pro- elections has not been forgotten and has with a statement from the Country Di- through inciting statements and propa- ation Room which seeks to provide cesses since 1992 showed that women also not been addressed,” Ali reiterated. rector Zebib Kavuma expressing fears ganda,” noted Mayieka. guidance and advice during the elec- participation in peace building is that the violence witnessed during the tioneering period to ensure that issues strikingly low. Petition 2007 General Election is likely to recur. Hotspots with potential to polarize Kenyans are Only 2.4 per cent of signatories of The Coalition has petitioned the Similar sentiments have been The Women Situation Room in dealt with promptly. peace agreements were women; Government to establish mechanisms shared by the Team of Eminent persons Kenya has listed Nairobi, Mombasa, According to Faith Kasiva, National No woman has been appointed to prevent the recurrence of sexual and headed by former member of Parlia- Eldoret, Naivasha, Kisumu, Nakuru, Coordinator of the Women Situation chief or lead mediator in UN spon- gender based election violence during ment Phoebe Asiyo. Tana River and Kwale among hotspot Room, the initiative plans to use the sored peace talks and women’s partici- the March 4, General Election. Speaking during a meeting or- areas where violence is most likely to eminent women to reach political play- pation in negotiations delegation only The petition which seeks one mil- ganised by the Women Situation erupt. ers to resolve issues and threats of vio- averaged a mere 5.9 per cent. lion signatures calls on President Mwai Room-Kenya, Elizabeth Mayieka who Mayieka called for a cohesive ap- lence as and when reported. This is despite the fact that sexual Kibaki, Prime Minister Raila Odinga, spoke on behalf of the team said that proach by political players to prevent Kasiva noted that the Women Situ- violence against women and girls con- Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and At- there are genuine fears that the vio- election related violence. ation Room seeks to lobby political par- tinues to be a plague in conflicts and torney General Githu Muigai as well as lence witnessed during the last elec- She said the Team of Em- ties, state entities, civil society, media, post-conflict situations. Mixed challenges bar the path to women’s leadership …By Robert Wanjala in political race,” says Kipkeu. “Although I have go people are asking for handouts.” There is also aims to ensure the constitutional women rule is since asked him for forgiveness, he is still reluc- the issue of electorate animosity that they have to achieved. he path for women candidates in the tant to allow me campaign freely.” contend with. Kiptoo notes that some of the elec- The Constitution 2010 stipulates that not upcoming general election continues Party popularity has also made it difficult for torate turn violence when they do not get hand- more than two-thirds of the members of the elec- to be murky, tearful and brutal. In the many women to venture into politics. For exam- outs from them. tive bodies shall be of the same gender. recent party primaries, many women ple, United Republic Party (URP) is regarded as This factor, she says, has made many eligible According to Peace Initiative Kenya past elec- cameT face to face with the reality of male-domi- the party of choice in Uasin Gishu County. Wom- women shun elective positions. It has also scared tions in Kenya indicate that the number of wom- nated politics that left most women locked out on en candidates vying with parties perceived to be women voters from attending political meetings en who are likely to win through the ballot will be technicalities. unfriendly to URP have had a backlash, criticism to hear what they propose to do for them. extremely low. In Uasin Gishu County many women were and resentment from the electorate in their re- According to Rural Women Peace Link the “In 2007, only 16 women got elected as MPs elbowed out of the electoral race through percep- spective areas. stage for electoral malpractices was set by the yet there were over 200 women on the ballot pa- tions and attitude about women’s place in leader- “My support suffered soon after switching to last Parliament after it failed pass legislation that pers. The list of women cleared by Independent ship, stereotyping and repressive culture and high another party considered to be unfriendly to the would have made it possible to achieve the gender Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to requirement from election body to limited access community. I lost my bid in URP and since then rule and avoid unnecessary budgetary burden on vie for MP is less than 40,” says John Ndeta, Me- to funds among other factors that only seemed to the community is a bit hostile with the party I am the county assembly. dia and Peace coordinator Peace Initiative Kenya. favour their male counterparts. vying on,” says another women aspirant. She did “This County had about 30 women aspirants “Despite clinching party nominations we are not want her new party quoted because of loyalist vying for various positions but after the party Violence faced with many challenges stemming from un- issues. nominations less than eight women other than Women bore the brunt of the violence dur- receptive community regarding our ambitions women representatives captured the positions of ing the primaries and it is not surprising that they for elective positions,” says Lillian Kiptoo, who is Abuse governor, senator or MP,” says Liza Akinyi, pro- performed dismally and instead chose to take vying for county representative seat on a Wiper Although most women say they have not en- gramme officer gender and governance at the Ru- refuge in the 47 seats reserved for women,” notes party ticket in Uasin Gishu County. “Male aspi- countered physical abuse in their quest for elec- ral Women Peace Link. Ndeta. rants fear my candidature and have labelled me tive positions, many are experiencing intimida- The Rural Women Peace Link which has been Over 100 women will be battling it out against as ‘stubborn’ woman who does not respect the tion, repressive culture and stereotyping from training women on elections says most of them each other for a chance to clinch the 47 positions c u ltu re .” their male rivals. were short-changed in party primaries. reserved for them in every county. Although she has the backing of most eligible Women aspirants in the region are also grap- “Uasin Gishu County has few women aspi- Ndeta says there is need for creation of safe electorates, Kiptoo says her rivals who lost in the pling with will power and other relevant machin- rants because many were shortchanged during space for women and their supporters to moni- party primaries have opted to support other fel- ery to put up a vigorous fight to counter their the party nominations. Some were lured by their tor and report gender based violence during elec- low male competitors. male rivals who have heavy financial muscle. men (husbands) to vie on parties chosen for them tions. “Some have chosen to deploy unorthodox According to Anne Chemitei, an aspirant for only to end up losing to their rivals,” explains He adds: “It is incumbent upon IEBC and tactics like peddling propaganda and hate cam- the Women Representative vying on Mzalendo Akinyi. the security agencies to ensure full compliance to paign against my bid for ward representative,” she Saba Saba ticket says resource mobilization to The organisation is holding training for wom- electoral laws as well as the laws of the land in- claims. fund campaigns is posing a serious challenge for en in the region aimed at equipping them with cluding the Constitution.” Another candidate on United Republican most women. campaign strategies and action plans ahead of the With nominations behind and elections bare- party (URP) ticket Mary Kipkeu claims she was Kiptoo says: “Our male competitors are well General Election. ly a month away, the verdict is out: the goal of in- beaten up by her husband when she told him that resourced and are giving out money to influence The training further hopes to equip women creasing the number of women in political lead- she was seeking elective post. votes and this has made it hard for some of us with important campaigning skills and strategies ership will remain a mirage unless the principle of “My husband beat me up after hearing I was to carry out our campaigns free. Everywhere I to market their agenda to the electorates. It also affirmative action is respected and implemented. Issue Number 35 • February 2013 15 Fate of immediate former Women pray for women MPs hangs in the balance peaceful elections …By Carolyne Oyugi …By Sam Kosgei they get nods from the party to vie for the s campaigns for the March 4, general seats. elections entered the homestretch, hile in 2007 General Elec- The United Republic Party (URP) is the team of Eminent Persons and tion, the Rift Valley region the most popular in the region and those the women of Kenya held a national accomplished an incred- who secured tickets have one foot in front prayer conference to launch the theme of us- ible feat by electing the towards clinching the seats. It will be in- A ing the institution of motherhood to connect to highest number of women to the tenth teresting to see whether those vying out- W the youth to shun violence and use dialogue as a parliament since independence. side URP will weather the storm to get means of solving political issues. The women from a region deemed to elected. The event that took place at Kenyatta Interna- be patriarchal, defied social norms which tional Conference Centre brought together hun- have for long regarded them as children Parliament dreds of women who dedicated their Saturday after seven of them quashed the male A handful of women did not manage morning to pray for peaceful elections. dominance in elective politics storming to URP tickets to vie for MPs seats meaning The speakers emphasised on the importance the august House in style. that riding by the current party popular- of maintaining peace before, during and after the However, concerns are now emerging ity, few if not none of them will be elected elections. While addressing the gathering Graca that the next parliament might not have to parliament. Machel, member of Commonwealth of Nations even have a third of women after majority Kosgey is defending the Aldai seat on Eminent Persons Group and wife to former South of them were swept out in the party pri- an ODM ticket while Kilimo is angling African President Nelson Mandela urged Ke- maries across the region. the Marakwet East on TNA ticket that has since entered an alliance with URP. nyans not to forget where they have come from. Bribery Sambili is defending the Mogotio seat on “You learnt the lessons in 2007, you were in The nomination exercise were marred a Kanu ticket. shock, you have been traumatised and definitely by cases of voter bribery, violence and lack Kilimo has since waded through such in 2013 you cannot say you do not know how bad of democratic and fair process of elections tides. In 2002, she swam against the Kanu it can be,” said Machel who urged women to help which left majority of the women hopefuls wave across the Rift Valley region to get fight tribalism and ethnicity in their communi- falling by the wayside. elected on a Narc ticket. She achieved ties. Apart from the flawed primaries there "The women actively advocated a similar feat in 2007 vying on a Kenda She also encouraged every woman and all Ke- are other issues that have immensely con- ticket. nyans to shun tribalism and burn ethnic bridges. tributed to the downfall of women in- for the adoption of affirmative However, it will not be an easy ride “When we say we are praying for peace and we volved in active politics: Party popularity for the anti-female genital mutilation have said it here, that peace begins with me,” she and the introduction of the special seats action which guaranteed a crusader since under the Jubilee Alliance stressed. Machel warned Kenyans that if the tribal and reserved for women by the constitution. third women representation, agreement that some areas were zoned Apparently the male politicians have off and among them was the Marakwet ethnic differences are not resolved, then Kenya used the introduction of women represen- the misinterpretation had region and it will be intriguing to see if will find itself in a situation worse than the 2007- tative seat to lock out women from vying Kilimo will marshal as many votes to al- 2008. She urged voters to respect each other’s from other positions. worked against them." low her back into parliament. opinion and their right to vote for their preferred leaders. — Dr Joyce Laboso Kamar and Sambili are of the view Elected that party popularity will not propel any- “A peaceful election means ethnic voting is Those who were elected to Parliament one to power and those who subscribe to discouraged. Respect each other’s choices and in the last Parliament are Prof Margaret Kamar such ideology are democratic dwarfs. their right to vote even if you don’t agree on opin- “There is a gross misinterpretation of the one ion,” Machel advised. She further asked politi- (Eldoret East), Jebii Kilimo (Marakwet East), third women representation clause which is cur- The duo instead believe that this year’s elec- Dr Sally Kosgei (Aldai) Peris Simam (Eldoret tions will be issue based and leaders will be cians to shun hate speech, noting that some use rently working against the women. Deceptively their vernacular to spread it. South), Beatrice Kones (Bomet), Dr Joyce La- the men are using all means to lock out women elected according to their development records. boso (Sotik) and Prof Hellen Sambili (Mogotio). from vying for other elective seats instead urg- “This election will be purely issue based Genocide Laboso, Kilimo, Kosgey, Sambili are defend- where leaders will be judged on their agenda ing them to concentrate on the women seat,” said She encouraged Kenyans to reject tribal poli- ing their seats while Kamar has upped her gam and development scorecards rather that their Laboso. tics and ignore hate speech as these can lead to and is going for the Uasin Gishu gubernatorial party affiliations. Those riding on party popu- She expressed fears that if the trend contin- genocide. Women, Machel noted, should take up seat. Simam and Kones succumbed to the party larity to ascend to power are in for a shock,” said ues the National Assembly will have less women leadership positions in the society and use the nominations. Sambili. representation adding that the last general elec- power positions to change the way politics is con- Laboso who secured a ticket to defend her Although the women are alive to the fact tions had given women a fair share of politics ducted in the country. Sotik seat argued that the women actively ad- that the URP wave will tilt the outcome of the against their male counterparts. Chairman Commission for the Implemen- vocated for the adoption of affirmative action upcoming elections, they rallied women to al- On the other hand, the party wave in the Rift tation of the Constitution, Charles Nyachae, re- which guaranteed a third women representation, ways remain steadfast and focused in their quest Valley region played against the women as men- minded Kenyans that for peaceful elections to the misinterpretation had worked against them. for leadership in the country. folk used all the barbaric means to ensure that happen all institutions involved should ensure fairness, democracy and peaceful atmosphere. He emphasized that the commission expects free and fair elections and they are working hard Women make the highest numbers towards achieving successful elections. Her excellency Nkozasana Dlamini-Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union could not in political parties’ membership roll make it to the event but sent her speech which was read by the former Maendeleo ya Wanawake …By Boniface Mulu television. ment expense. chairlady Zipporah Kittonyi. “The IEBC is going to give us a lot of in- She said that if the women candidates in the In her speech, Dlamini-Zuma told Kenyans enyan women are doing very well in formation between now and the elections date country will not be trained on constitution and that the gathering was important because it re- political parties because their regis- through the media,” noted Mavisi. political leadership they will be violating the law minded them the importance of peace. tration for party membership is big. She also appealed to the women who are without knowing. She also reminded Kenyans that they are re- According to Violet Mavisi, an candidates to conduct peaceful campaigns. Speaking at the same event, Boniface Kavu- sponsible for the kind of history they would like Kadvocate of the High Court of Kenya this makes “Using abusive languages is part of politi- lu, a civil society practitioner, said that women people to read in future and that has to be made it important for women candidates to under- cal weakness. Your weaknesses always work in politics face a lot of challenges and should be now. stand the Elections Act and the Constitution on your weaknesses,” she observed. trained to overcome them. Kittonyi emphasized on the important posi- because they direct how the elections are going She asked the women candidates to be “We want women to acquire skills to tion held by women in society and more specifi- to be conducted. very careful about the tactics of their oppo- compete competently with men in politics,” cally when it comes to peace. She observed that the 2007 post-election nents who are fond of chaos. Kavulu said. He noted that women should go “In the house we are the mothers, sisters, aun- violence occurred because people did not ac- “Arrange your security throughout the day. for elective seats and compete with men on the ties and grandmothers. We also have a special knowledge the position of the Electoral Com- You can even arrange to get government secu- same positions. place in everyone’s life because we are the ones mission of Kenya (ECK). rity,” she advised. Paul Kasimbu of UN Women said the or- who give birth. Let us use that special position to “Women candidates must not to do things ganisation was fully prepared to empower all preach nothing short of peace,” Kittonyi reiter- that will make them to be disqualified by the Insecurity women including aspirants should seek assis- ated. Independent Electoral and Boundaries Com- Mavisi urged the women to report cases of tance from the agency. Kenyan women marked the occasion as other mission (IEBC) of Kenya,” Mavisi advised. insecurity to the police since as political aspi- Kasimbu noted that posters, flyers, bill- women prepare to mark The World Day of Prayer rants they have many enemies trailing them. boards and other publicity materials are impor- which is an international ecumenical Christian Leadership She made it known to them that it is an of- tant in politics to woo voters. laywomen’s initiative. It is run under the motto She was addressing women candidates fence to transport or bribe voters as it could land Laura Kimwele said that the Kenya Women “Informed Prayer and Prayerful Action” and is from Kitui County during workshop on po- one in a court. Political Candidates Programme’s database/ celebrated annually in over 170 countries on the litical leadership organised by the UN Women “You must condemn violence, hate sp In- website gives the female aspirants coverage free first Friday of March. The movement aims to in partnership with the INADES Formation, a security eech and intimidation. That is your re- of charge. bring together women of various races, cultures non-governmental organisation. sponsibility,” Mavisi reiterated. “The programme allows you to interact and traditions in a yearly common Day of Prayer, Mavisi asked the aspirants to be in the know She said that the money used by the gov- with voters by getting and responding to as well as in closer fellowship, understanding and of political issues in the country through read- ernment in funding the political parties in the comments. Liking or disliking of your page action throughout the year. ing newspapers, listening to radio and watching country will be audited like any other govern- among other benefits,” Kimwele explained. 16 Issue Number 35 • February 2013 Social fabric threatened as gender based violence eats families

…By Robert Wanjala fering at the grassroots. They are unable to come and attend this kind he war against gender of forum and, therefore, we should based violence is far from take these peace meetings to rural over. Rural Women Peace areas to benefit the whole commu- Link has raised concerns nity where such acts mostly take overT increased gender based vio- place,” Jerebet noted. lence cases with Nandi County lead- Her sentiments were echoed ing in Rift Valley. by Violet Anyango who noted that According to Mary Chepkwony, because of fear and stigma many Deputy Director of Programmes at people, especially women, are not Rural Women Peace Link, the rise coming out to report cases of such in gender based violence was due to indecent acts. deep rooted tradition and cultural practices. Conspire “Factors such as culture, poverty In case where a father is in- and lack of support from local lead- volved, Anyango said, parents con- ers have let to increase of the vice,” spire to hide these acts or negotiate Chepkwony said. compensation away from the public and legal systems. Barriers “In the rural settings parents Mary Chepkwony addressing a media workshop on gender based violence in Eldoret. She noted that Nandi County conspire to compromise and agree register’s at least one case of defile- to better have one child suffer than ment and rape every day. allow the whole family destroyed,” the list at 63.4 per cent followed by Reiterating on sexuality educa- eating up the society and that some “Some girls have been impreg- she observed. women above 18 at 36.6 per cent. tion Anyango, community health drastic action needed to be taken to nated by their father. Many of these Similarly, other participants During the meeting, media was worker said young boys are pursu- avoid a generational gap in future. cases are never reported due to fear shared that many homes especially criticized by various participants ing young girls without knowing According to Jane Godia, a gen- and cultural barriers,” she said. where father is the breadwinner, a who accused them of not doing that some were born with the HIV. der and media expert with African Chepkwony was speaking in El- wife will choose to cover her hus- enough to highlight issues of social “I know a case where a wife was Woman and Child Features, women doret during a media and grassroots band rather than take him to the decadency. sleeping with her herds boy and at must engage with the local media women encounter organised by Af- authorities for fear of exposing the “Media plays a critical role of ed- the same time the herds’ boy was to amplify the collapse of society’s rican Woman and Child Features entire family to economic hardships. ucating people and giving the com- sleeping around with the woman’s moral fabric. under the Peace Initiative Kenya The forum also heard that most munity a platform to share the social daughters,” Anyango shared. This Godia noted that it was high time project which sponsored by USAID. women fear rejection and being issues. We need to have the me- situation left a whole family infected media adopted local programmes Women participants shared the thrown out of their marriage by the dia traditional platforms and pro- as the woman was also still having to foster education and awareness untold stories of defilement and relatives of in case the husband is the grammes where people can talk sex- sex with her husband. campaign around sexual and gender rape. one at the centre of vice. uality openly,” said Beatrice Kimani, based violence especially where a “Rape and defilement cases are In Uasin Gishu County, the of Rural Women Peace Link. Virus father was going against custom by on the increase and this message meeting was told gender based vio- The situation is particularly wor- Another participant also shared seeing his daughter’s nakedness. should be taken to grassroots where lence has also been on steady rise. rying especially in this era of HIV how her neighbour was sleeping “Engage and use local media to such vices are rampant,” said Judith Available statistics at Moi Teaching and Aids. It was noted that as fathers around with the house girl who was amplify these issues. There is also a Jerebet, a participant. and Referral Hospital- Centre for defile their daughters they also infect also and the having sex with his three need for local oriented programmes According to Jerebet perpetra- Assault Recovery (CAR-E) shows them with HIV. Of particular con- sons and the man was already infect- to increase education and awareness tors of these acts are known people over 4,100 of new cases of sexual cern was the fact that many young ed with the virus. This is a situation and we can only succeed through in our communities and they don’t violence survivors. people born with HIV are not aware that would leave a husband, wife and involving the community’s elders even spare disabled who are always According to records at the of their status and therefore, stand a sons infected with the virus. to allow them share their perspec- helpless. centre about 250 cases are reported higher chance of infecting their boy- Participants raised concerns that tives on culture and taboo,” Godia “Many disabled women are suf- monthly. Girls below 18 years top friends or girlfriends. sexual gender based violence was observed. Chiefs, police cashing in on gender based violence

…By David Kirui crooked police officers use violence yet the survivors are left traumatised. day ignored yet in the old days men was taken to her court and handed against women and children to en- Sawe narrated the story of a cou- and women strongly observed tra- life sentence and when the man was hile violence against rich themselves by getting huge ple that had gone to work in Sudan ditional values. Unless the vice is asked for mitigation he pleaded for women and children bribes to conceal the truth. but left the children to suffer at home stopped, the girl child remains under mercy claiming that his children will continues unabated in Sawe noted that several cases of with no responsible care. When he serious threat,” observed Magut. suffer since his wife was away. the Rift Valley Prov- children who had been defiled went confronted the couple, they attempt- She pleaded with local commu- Magut noted that some men who Wince, existence of outdated cultural unreported because a number of ed to bribe him with KSh300,000 so nities to protect young children and are perpetrators of violence use their believes makes it difficult to mitigate chiefs working in cahoots with cor- that he does not take the case of child girls who are sexually abused to sat- influence to deny victims justice. against the vice. rupt police officers protect perpetra- abuse further. isfy personal ego from amorous men. “Communities in this region have In most communities wife beating tors. His sentiments were echoed by According to Marusin Kogo, co- to stand up against the malpractices is normal business while rape and de- “I have spent about five months Irene Magut, a woman leader with ordinator Nandi Council of Elders, that go against the rights affecting filement remain taboo topics. While pleading with a chief and police in Rural Women Peace Link organisa- the senior citizens are not happy with women and children,” reiterated Ma- the communities refuse to let the law one station in Nandi to bring to book tion who noted that Nandi County rising cases of violence. They have gut. take its course, police and provincial a suspect who defiled a young girl in is among the counties in Rift Valley asked parent and all stakeholders in- The main objective of the Media administrators have been accused of church but I am always being told where violence against children and cluding church leaders and teachers Roundtable was to get perspectives being a stumbling block to containing that the suspect has run away from women is rampant. to expose such cases. from experts on how the media can case of violence against women as well his home,” explains Sawe. According to Magut, records During the judicial week held last set the agenda in stopping conflict as rape and defilement of children. He was speaking during a media from the police and Judiciary indi- year, Kapsabet Principal Magistrate, and gender based violence in Rift roundtable meeting organised by Af- cate that Nandi County registered Margaret Mosiria noted that the Valley. It would also see how they Enrich rican Woman and Children Features more than 1,800 cases last year and County was leading in Kenya when can come together to highlight is- A number of chiefs and the police under the Peace Initiative Kenya some of those involved are old men, it comes to violence, rape and defile- sues of gender based violence and have been accused of taking bribes Project. The Meeting brought to- church leaders and teachers. ments against women and children in peace from the community’s per- and perpetrating the vice instead of gether senior newsroom managers in “Nandi County had lost its former Kenya. spective. providing protection to the victims. Eldoret and stakeholders to discuss glory and was now known for bad The Peace Initiative Kenya project They have been accused of turning peace, electoral violence and gender things yet it is the region that used to Guardians aims at creating grassroots networks a blind eye to the abuses and pro- based violence. be known for producing world class The magistrate said in the past that have the capacity to prevent and tecting the perpetrators who end up According to Sawe rampant cases athletes,” Magut said. eight months Nandi County had reg- mitigate violence, including Gen- walking away scot free and repeating of violence and child abuse happen She called upon religious and istered 1,600 case of rape and defile- der Based Violence in Kenya’s most the same offences but on different under the nose of some officers and opinion leaders to take time and ment noting some of which involved conflictive zones during the pre and women and children. chiefs who instead of bringing sus- teach youths against engaging in all guardians who were supposed to give post-election period. It is being con- According to Joseph Sawe from pects to book, opt to ask for bribes kinds of violence including those protection to the children. ducted in the Coast, Nyanza, Rift the Child Care and Clinic Organ- which are given in kangaroo courts against women and children. According to Mosiria an em- Valley, Western and within Nairobi’s isation in Eldoret some chiefs and and the suspect walks home free man “Kalenjin cultural beliefs are to- ployee of a tea company in Kapsabet informal settlements. Issue Number 35 • February 2013 17 ICC trust fund receives major boost from UK …By Faith Muiruri national Criminal Court (ICC). These crimes are genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes he Trust Fund kitty for victims of and in the future crimes against aggression. sexual violence under the jurisdiction The Trust Fund for Victims addresses and of the International Criminal Court responds to the physical, psychological or mate- (ICC) has received a major boost from rial needs of the most vulnerable victims. It raises theT British government following the disburse- public awareness and mobilizes people, ideas and ment of £500 million (KSh67,887,242,393). resources. It funds innovative projects through The donation marks the third year in a row intermediaries to relive the suffering of the often that United Kingdom has undertaken to sup- forgotten survivors. port victims of sexual and gender based vio- Trust Fund for Victims works closely with lence in conflict situations. NGOs, community groups, women grassroots “The donation is in addition to another organizations, governments and United Nations £500,000 (KSh67,889,585) by the UK to the agencies at local, national and international lev- ICC Trust Fund for Victims (TFV). We believe els. that Trust Fund for Victims is doing excellent By focusing on local ownership, the Trust work in supporting victims of sexual and gen- Fund for Victims empowers victims as main der based violence during conflict,” said Wil- stakeholders in the process of rebuilding their liam Hague Britain’s Foreign Secretary. lives. He noted that the contribution signifies that With the unique roles of implementing both Britain has prioritised the assistance and repara- court ordered and general assistance to victims of tion for victims of sexual violence under its mul- crimes under ICC’s jurisdiction, the Trust Fund tidisciplinary task force to support international for Victims offers key advantages for promoting and national jurisdictions in investigating and lasting peace, reconciliation and well-being in preventing sexual violence in armed conflict. war torn societies. The move was lauded by the Trust Fund for The Trust Fund for Victims’ mandate in- Victims’ Board of Directors which said that the cludes implementing court ordered reparation donation was a clear affirmation by the United awards against a convicted person as directed by Kingdom that there is need for concerted in- the court. ternational action in the fight against sexual In addition, the Trust Fund for Victims uses violence in conflict under the United Kingdom’s voluntary contributions from donors to provide Presidency of the G8. victims and their families in situations where the court is active with physical rehabilitation, mate- Progress rial support and psychological rehabilitation. According to Kristin Kalla, a senior Pro- Currently Trust Fund for Victims is provid- gramme Officer with the Trust Fund for Vic- ing broad range support to victims in Northern tims, the kitty has made significant progress in Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo supporting over 5,000 survivors of sexual and including access to reproductive health service, gender based violence in the Democratic Re- vocational training, trauma based counselling, public of Congo and Northern Uganda. reconciliation workshops and reconstructive “I believe that the contribution by the Unit- surgery to an estimated 80,000 victims of crimes ed Kingdom will allow the Fund to expand their under ICC jurisdiction and 5,000 victims of sex- assistance to other situations such as the Cen- ual violence. tral African Republic,” said Kalla. The Trust Fund for Victims is the first of its Programmes kind in the global movement to end impunity The Trust Fund for Victims plans to estab- and promote justice. At the end of one of the lish support programmes in Central African bloodiest centuries in history, the international Republic and will focus on aiding victims of community made a commitment to end impu- sexual violence and building systems to combat nity, help prevent the gravest crimes known to rape and other forms of gender based violence. humanity and bring justice to victims with the Most projects under Trust Fund for Vic- adoption of the Rome Statute. tims have incorporated both gender and child specific interventions to support the special Statute vulnerability of women and children. In 2002, the Rome Statute came into effect The ICC is faced with a challenge on the Kenyan cases. So far the Kenyan There are currently eight situations be- and the Assembly of state parties established the cases has consumed approximately KSh 2 billion in both handling the cases and fore the ICC namely Northern Uganda, the Trust Fund for Victims under article 79 of the protecting witnesses in foreign countries. Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Dar- Rome statute to benefit victims of crimes and fur, Central African Republic (CAR), Kenya, their families within the jurisdiction of the Inter- Libya, Cote d’Ivoire and Mali. Vulnerable women and girls equipped with defence skills …By Faith Muiruri bands and intimate partners. “Each slum has a team of about margin of 65 per cent. bura, a programme officer with No It is against this backdrop that six to 10 self-defence trainers. The “Over half the girls reported Means No Worldwide, the initia- he fact that women need the No Means No Worldwide trainers work closely with teach- they had used self-defence tech- tive seeks to make young girls more help now is an affirmation (NMNW) organisation has under- ers and administrators in both niques to prevent rape. It is very assertive and firm and this helps that aptly captures the voic- taken to train women and children primary and secondary schools encouraging to see that such a sim- protect them potential assailants. es of thousands of victims on effective rape prevention strat- in the area to equip students with ple low cost intervention had tre- “Seventy four per cent of perpe- ofT gender based violence who have egies in schools, churches, youth physical fighting skills,” Odhiambo mendously reduced the incidence trators in rape cases are known to either experienced rape and other groups and other community ven- explained to Kenyan Woman dur- of rape in the area,” she explained. the victims and the violence can be gender abuses in their lifetime. ues free of charge. ing an interview after the launch of Odhiambo noted that most girls prevented,” explained Nyambura. Statistics on gender based vio- According to Evelyne Odhiam- one billion rising dance held at the reported using verbal skills which lence in Kenya paint a grim picture bo, a programme officer with by No Central Park in Nairobi. entails screaming for help or yell- Linkage with studies indicating that one in Means No Worldwide, the initiative She said the initiative was borne ing ‘No’ to scare off the assailant. According to Naomi Wanjiru every six women aged between 15 mainly targets slum areas as wom- out of the need to equip young girls She said the organization is also who provides post-care services to and 70 years respectively has ex- en living in informal settlements with defence skills after a baseline the force behind the training of the the victims, No Means No World- perienced physical and sexual vio- are highly susceptible to regular survey conducted by the organisa- famous Fighting Grannies of Ko- wide has been able to link survivors lence in their lives. and in some cases extreme forms of tion revealed that 25 per cent of rogocho which was mooted to coun- with hospitals and provide them Worse still is the fact that the lev- sexual violence and deaths. secondary school girls in the area ter the high rates of attacks against with legal services to ensure that el of violence against women is rising were being raped every year. grannies who were being raped and justice prevails. despite the Sexual Offences Act. Studies Odhiambo noted that the ini- dumped along sewer lines. “We have also been working According to Odhiambo, stud- tiative had also incorporated young closely with International Justice Abused ies indicate that self-defence tech- girls who have dropped out of Survivors Mission (IJM) which provides vic- According to Saida Ali, Execu- niques can increase a woman’s abil- school as they were more vulner- The organisation has also tims with free legal services to en- tive Director Coalition of Violence ity to prevail in an assault by up to able to sexual attacks. launched a Sexual Support Sur- sure that the assailants are brought Against Women (COVAW), three 85 per cent. vivors Anonymous (SASA) pro- to book,” Wanjiru explained. out 10 women in Kenya admit that The initiative mainly targets Impact gramme which targets survivors However, she noted that they they have been physically and sex- schools in the slums and is current- She observed that the pro- of sexual violence or attempted as- are faced with challenges particu- ually abused by their spouses and ly being implemented in learning gramme has borne remarkable sault and provides them with sup- larly in the cases of underage girls sexual partners with women in facilities within Korogocho, Huru- fruit with a recent research by the port during healing and recovery when some parents opt for out of Nairobi being listed as more prone ma, Kibera, Mukuru, Dandora and organisation pointing to drastic process. court settlements which deny the to rape and murder by their hus- Mathare. drop in rape cases by a significant According to Esther Nyam- victims justice. 18 Issue Number 35 • February 2013 Those blocking women’s empowerment to be blacklisted …By Waikwa Maina upcoming women entrepre- Kangocho Village, neurs access the funds. Mathira Constituency, inancial intermediar- “We have conducted em- Nyeri County, is a testi- ies that breach terms powerment programmes with mony of how determi- and conditions for the intermediaries and those nation to commercial the KSh1 billion plus that continue to exploit women farming can change WomenF Enterprise Fund will or fail to honour our terms and lives. be blacklisted and have their conditions will be blacklisted,” She has created job contract with the kitty termi- warns Kuria. She adds: “We opportunities out of nated. have also conducted a research her less than one-acre At the same time, the fund on challenges facing both the parcel of land. On aver- has embarked on aggressive women and the intermediaries age, she is now earning initiative to assist women ben- and everything has now been between KSh750,000- eficiaries of the Women Enter- harmonised.” KSh1.2 million from prise Fund in value addition Women Enterprise Fund the farm annually. and marketing of their prod- has 105 intermediaries spread Out of this farm, ucts. across the country. In a bid she has been able to Among the initiatives are to monitor how the funds are educate her two chil- intra-county forums, inter- utilised, each intermediary is dren in universities county forums and national required to submit its report while two of her other forums where the women meet every three months on how children are in private to exchange in entrepreneurial they have released the funds. boarding schools. ideas as well as form and create The minimum ceiling for The farmer admits business partnerships. group’s applicants will also be that poor land manage- Women Fund ICT Manager Virginia Kuria during the launching of Intra County Linkage program increased from KSh50,000 to ment and lack of capital in Nyeri County. Right: Rebecca Mwangi demonstrating commercial farming during the launch. Practices KSh200,000. are key issues affecting “We have started with Launching of the intra- many farmers. of time to convince the manag- amounting to KSh80,000which project brings her an average intra-county forums where county programme in Nyeri “I was in a similar situa- er that the fish farming project she repaid and applied for of KSh200, 000 annually and women from a given county was done at Rebecca Mwan- tion; I could not even afford to I wanted to undertake was able KSh100,000 more and from normally harvests 75 per cent meet and learn best practices gi’s farm. Mwangi has created pay my contribution for women to repay back the loan,” recalls that time life has never been the of the fish/fingerlings each from their successful counter- an empire out of KSh35,000 merry-go-round groups and I Mwangi. same. harvesting season. parts. This is an inter-linkage loaned to her from the kitty in was blacklisted in most of them,” Due to that persistence, he exercise we want to roll out in 2008. explains Mwangi. She adds: advised me to do a proposal. Loan Depth all counties,” says John Njogu, In Central Province, land “Eventually, I had to retreat in “I told him I had never done Today Mwangi has six The recommended depth marketing and research man- scarcity is a key challenge fac- solitary confinement. Our small one but he told me to put down farming projects in her farm, of a fishpond is normally three ager women Enterprise Fund. ing families. Majority of the parcel of land could produce whatever I have being telling dairy goats, bee-keeping, and feet but the farmer says that The purpose of these initia- homesteads rely on half an acre enough to feed the family and him in writing in any language rabbits. She is also into brick with experience, she has learnt tives is to assist more women for subsistence farming, while pay school fees.” even if it was in Kikuyu,” says making and coffee farming that best depth is five feet deep get markets for their produce in others it has become impos- But she had ideas on the Mwangi. “I did that and took it each complementing the other for water security reasons, giv- and wares and also to network sible to subdivide their land, type of farming she wanted to to him the following morning.” for maximum returns. ing the fish enough breeding through interactions. with dwelling houses squeezed do, she was convinced that with By this time, the manager Out of her 15beehives, she and playing space among oth- The kitty has also partnered in the only available piece of proper management her small had started to admire her is able to harvest an average of ers. On mature fish, she says, with other players such as Ke- land. land could transform the fam- courage and sincerity but he 365 kilograms of honey each the recommended weight for nyatta University and Export ily’s lifestyle. had more doubts when he vis- selling at an average of KSh600 harvest is between 350grams to Promotion Council among oth- Framing A ray of hope came to her ited the hilly location of where per kilo. 400grams, a size most preferred ers to assist in market research The land factor together when she attended a funeral Mwangi wanted to do fish In the same farm, she has by customers. and quality products. with poor land management where the chief talked about farming. However, finally he five fish ponds each produc- In the same farm, she has According to Virginia skills, lack of commercial farm- the Women Enterprise Fund. decided to take the risk. ing an average of 500 finger- dairy goats that bring her be- Kuria, the Women Enterprise ing skills and capital to engage She consulted the chief for She started with one fish- lings selling each at KSh10, tween KSh80,000 to KSh120, Fund ICT manager, the man- in diversified commercial farm- more information and then pond and used its returns to in- while mature fish sells at be- 000 annually. Rabbits occupy a agement is taking stock of fi- ing practices has contributed to visited Taifa Sacco to apply for vest in two more fishponds. tween KSh80-KSh120 per small space in her farm but they nancial intermediaries that increased poverty. the loan. “The branch manager After repaying the loan, harvest depending on market. rake in an average of KSh300, have made it cumbersome for However, Mwangi from could not trust me, It took a lot she applied for another one On average, the fish farming 000 annually. Women’s seat seeks to balance the equilibrium in Kwale …By Correspondent this the alliance picked will determine The National Alliance (TNA) party. all from the Digo community. NVP. the winner as there circumstance Already rifts have emerged between Just as it was in the party prima- Coincidentally both have been hough the seats for the where all the three contestants of a co- TNA and UR. During the party pri- ries, stiff competition will be wit- politicians compared to the rest. They Governor and Senate had alition are from one community. maries one prominent personality nessed between Chidzuga and Masito both ran in 2007 with Chidzuga vy- been shaped up ethnically There are six contestants for the was accused of trying to block the who were both initially in the ODM ing for Matuga MP on a NARC ticket in Kwale County, the race seat of the Women’s representative led issuance of a certificate to TNA aspi- and although Masito moved to NVP while Masito vied for the Waa civic forT the Women Representative has by Zainab Chidzuga who previously rants. before the start of the exercise and was seat on an ODM. Unfortunately they been open. worked as a director at the Coast Wa- “It was not easy to get the cer- able to garner a sizeable number of both lost. Masito was then nominated In an earlier arrangement, the seat ter and was chairperson Maendeleo Ya tificate as some prominent people are votes. by her party while Chidzuga got the of the Governor was to come from Wanawake, who is vying on an ODM bent on ensuring that some of us do “My opponents have chickened position of being director at Coast Kinango which is dominated by the ticket. There is Fatuma Masito a for- not participate,” said Chidzuga. out and are saying that I already had Water. Duruma while the Senator from ei- mer councillor running on National a certificate. I did not have any but the ther Matuga or Msambweni where Vision Party (NVP), Mwanakombo Sell primaries were free and fair. I have Win Digos make the majority. Gwerenya on United Democratic On the URP side there are those hit the ground and let them expect a From the kind of hot adrenaline Front (UDF) and Ntembe Makoti a who say that it will be difficult to landslide victory for me,” said Chid- seen in their campaigns, it believed Equation former Teachers Service Commis- sell it. Chirau Mwakwere, a Senato- zuga. that any man who will align himself To complete the equation most sioner running on United Republican rial aspirant has an edge to clinch the Masito noted that despite the ir- with them will definitely win. Governor aspirants have picked the Party (URP). ticket, making it difficult for Kassim regularities, she could win from any So far Chidzuga is working with Kamba community who are majority Others are Catherine Njoki (Aga- Riga (Governor) and Ntembe Makoti party. Although she wanted to register Salim Mvurya as Governor and Boy migrants as their running mates. no Party) and just recently an advo- (Women’s Representative) from the in a party under CORD alliance, time Juma Boy as Senator in the CORD However, in the background of cate Mwanaisha Shariff came in for same party considering that they are was not on her side forcing her to join alliance.

Executive Director: Arthur Okwemba Managing Editor: Jane Godia Sub-Editors: Duncan Mboyah and Faith Muiruri Contributors: Henry Owino, Valentine Atieno, Ray Limo, Boniface Mulu, Martin Murithi, Ryan Mathenge, Mercy Mumo, Leonard Acharry, Ben The Kenyan Woman is a publication of African Oroko, Liz Nene, John Syengo, Yusuf Amin, Ruth Omukhango, Woman and Child Feature Service Waikwa Maina, Angela Oketch, Joyce Chimbi, Robert Wanjala, Sam Kosgei, Carolyne Oyugi and David Kirui E-mail: [email protected] Design & layout: Noel Lumbama (Noel Creative Media Ltd) www.awcfs.org