The Role of Patriarchy in the Roll-Back of Democracy
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The Role of Patriarchy in the Roll-back of Democracy EDITORS: Caroline Kioko, Rosebell Kagumire, Mbalenhle Matandela DISCLAIMER The designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Heinrich Böll Stiftung and African Feminism. Published by Heinrich Böll Stiftung, April 2020 Editors: Caroline Kioko, Rosebell Kagumire, Mbalenhle Matandela Copy Editor: Aminah Jasho Design Layout: Michael Lusaba Cover Image: Michael Lusaba, Angeline Nekesa Illustration: Easter Mbithe Mutavi Crispaus Onkoba Nyachae All papers in this publication are subject to Creative Commons License CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 You are free to share, copy and redistribute this publication in any medium or format under the following terms: Attribution: You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use. Noncommercial: You may not use the material for commercial purposes. No Derivatives: If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you may not distribute the modified material. This publication can be ordered from: Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Nairobi Office Prof. Wangari Maathai Road P.O. Box 10799-00100 GPO Nairobi, Kenya T +254 (0)20 2680745 E [email protected] W http://ke.boell.org CONTENTS Introduction: The Convergence of Patriarchy and Democratic Roll-Back in The East and Horn of Africa 13 Mbalenhle Matandela Unmasking Patriarchy: The Family and Traditional Values Discourse and The Quest for The Reproductive Health and Rights of Women 21 Nerima A. Were, Linda W. Kroeger and Tabitha S. Griffith Failed Democratisation and Female Empowerment: The Case of Eritrea 34 Valentina Fusari Arsii Oromo Women’s Socio-Political Agency: The Gadaa System, Siinqee, and Ateetee 51 Amatullah Semmer Aman Women’s Rights and Motherism in Africa 63 Getnet Tibebu Alemayehu Countering Patriarchal Politics: Role of Feminism in Widening Democratic Spaces 77 Samuel Oltetia & Passy Amayo Patriarchy and Democracy in Africa: Reflections On the Underlying Influence of Islamic and Indigenous African Traditions On Women Participation in Kenyan Politics. 87 George Odhiambo Okoth Patriarchy and Print Media Coverage in Kenya: An Analysis of Newspaper Framing of Women Politicians in Pre-And- Post 2017 General Election Kevin C. Mudavadi 101 2 Challenging Patriarchy Reproductive Justice as Human Rights in the East and Horn of Africa 119 Nothando Maphalala The Two-Thirds Gender Rule and The Question of Women Empowerment in Kenya 134 Protus Akwabi Murunga Winning Through (Dis)Alignment: The Language of the Kenyan Female Politicians 150 Simon Wanjala Nganga Challenging Patriarchy 3 ACRONYMS ACHPR: Protocol to the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa APHRC: African population and Health Research Centre AU: African Union BBC: British Broadcasting Corporation BPFA: Beijing Platform for Action CEDAW: The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women EAC: East African Community EPLF: Eritrean People’s Liberation Front FIDA: Federation of Women Lawyers- Kenya ICPD: UN International Conference on Population and Development ICCPR: International Covenant on Civil and political rights IGAD: The Intergovernmental Authority on Development MDGs: Millennium Development Goals NGOs: Non Governmental Organizations NARC: National Rainbow Coalition NASA: National Super Alliance Coalition NUEW: The National Union of Eritrean Women ODM: Orange Democratic Movement PFDJ: The People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (Həzbawi Gənbar nəDämokrasən Fətəḥən) UNDP: United Nations Development Programme UNHCR: The UN Refugee Agency UNSCR: UN Security Council Resolution USAID: U.S. Agency for International Development UNFPA: United Nations Population Fund WYDC: Warsay Ykealo Development Campaign 4 Challenging Patriarchy GLOSSARY Abba Gadaa: Chairperson of the Gadaa Ateetee: Ateetee is an indigenous Arsii Oromo womens’ musical conflict resolution process and an institution within siinqee. Using collective chanting, music, and support from their fellow women, Oromo women are able to protect and assert their rights in the face of opposition. Askari: A colonial description of an African military officer. Dichotomization: Dividing into two opposing groups or kinds. Femocracy or feminist democracy: A concept that denotes a commitment to socially inclusive and responsible governance . Gadaa Caffee: The Gadaa General Assembly. Gadaa System: An indigenous democratic system that encompasses the political, cultural, economic, and religious affairs of the Oromo people, and has been practised in Oromia for over 500 years. Iron maiden: Women leaders who are seen as bold and politically mature. Kakuu: Oath giving. Madamato or Madamismo: Used by Italians to refer to the concubinage between Italian men and African women referring to “something” that was neither marriage nor prostitution. ‘Minji Minji’: Translating to “small small” denoting the physical appearance of a young and beautiful woman. Ohangla: Traditional adult musical and dance genre among the Luo. Oromummaa: Oromo-ness. Shanee: Members of the Gadaa. Patriarchy: A social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege and control of property. Patrimonialism: A form of governance in which all power flows directly from the leader. Challenging Patriarchy 5 Seera ambaa/aadaa: Arsi Oromo Customary law. Siinqee: Defined as a woman-only institution within the Gadaa System used by women as a balance to counter male-dominated roles within Gadaa. Tegadalit: A female fighter or women combatants that has adopted masculine attitudes and values to fit into a new empowered. The Daily Nation and The Standard: Two of Kenya’s largest print newspapers. Ulee: A representative stick Oromo women carry with them. The stick symbolises a socially sanctioned set of rights exercised by women from the institution of siinqee. This special stick is given to a woman on her wedding day when she is legally married. Waayyuu: Represents the sacred one, a symbol of respect, and a reflection of God. God is the greatest waayyuu. 6 Challenging Patriarchy ACKNOWLEDGEMENT This book is a product of an enormous team effort. Heinrich Böll Foundation is sincerely grateful to all who have made the publishing of this book possible. We are grateful to the contributors for sharing their experiences, recommending solutions and approaches to realise equality and inclusivity. We also appreciate the editors who have worked tirelessly to produce a book that will hopefully inform better democratic processes for the states in the East and Horn of Africa. Appreciation also goes to Bwesigye bwa Mwesigire for the help in shaping the abstracts, Aminah Jasho for proofreading and copyediting the articles in the book and all the others who have helped shape and publish this book. We intend for this book to speak to a wide range of audiences, including policy-makers, scholars, activists and feminists. We hope that this book will aid in challenging patriarchy in the East and Horn of Africa and serve as a source of information towards inclusivity and equality in Africa. Challenging Patriarchy 7 NOTES ON EDITORS 1. Rosebell Kagumire is a Pan-African feminist writer, award-winning blogger and socio-political commentator. She is the curator and editor of African Feminism- AF, a platform that documents narratives and experiences of African women. Rosebell was honored with the 2018 Anna Guèye Award for her work on digital democracy, justice and equality by Africtivistes. The World Economic Forum recognized Rosebell as one of the Young Global Leaders under the age of 40. She holds a Masters in Media, Peace and Conflict Studies from the University for Peace in Costa Rica. She has also studied Global Leadership and Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School, and Nonviolent Conflict at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University. Her undergraduate degree is in Mass Communication from Makerere University. 2. Caroline Kioko is an African feminist and a human rights lawyer. She holds a degree in law from the University of Nairobi. Her specialization is in Public International Law and Human Rights Law. Caroline is an accredited professional mediator by the International Mediation Training Institute. She has a keen interest in development and application of civil, political and social rights in Africa. Caroline is a committee member of the Africa End Sexual Harassment Initiative working towards developing a regional model law on sexual harassment. She has immense experience working on governance and gender democracy, and currently works for Heinrich Böll Foundation-Nairobi Office as the Programme Coordinator on Gender Democracy in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia/ Somaliland. 3. Mbalenhle Matandela is an African feminist activist and writer who is a graduate of the University of Oxford and the University of Cape Town. Having studied African Studies at the University of Oxford and Gender and Transformation at the University of Cape Town, Mbalenhle writes as a Research Consultant for the AU Working Group on Gender Equality for the African Working Group at Goldsmith University on issues that relate to gender, conflict, peace and security in the Horn and Red Sea Areas. Mbalenhle has written about women’s experiences in liberation movements, digital social movements,