8 mars, journee internationale de la Femme

Women continue to suffer in silence

Publication Date: 3/9/2007

Yesterday was the International Women’s Day, which provides a forum every year to assess the achievements made in empowering women in all fields of human endeavour. In particular, it is a chance to challenge governments to see what structures they have put in place to ensure that women fully exploit their potential.

However, in Kenya, many women celebrated the day with a sense of gloom. In fact, for the majority in the rural areas and urban slums, such day means pretty little. Quite particularly, events of the past few months have confirmed women’s suspicions about the Government’s commitment to their empowerment.

For one, there has been disquiet among women in the past few days after the Government declined to appoint Mrs Jacinta Mwatela the new Central Bank Governor, yet she had acted in that position for a year.

Second, the Gender Commission, solely created and strengthened to address issues affecting both men and women, has been collapsed into a department of Social Services.

These two issues have sent strong signals about the Government’s real commitment to gender equity.

However, the day also provided an opportunity for women to reflect on issues that are very close to their hearts, including gender violence. And this was aptly captured in this year’s theme: “Ending Impunity for Violence Against Women and Girls”.

Reports from all over the country indicate that women and girls are subjected to physical, mental, emotional and psychological violence in their daily lives. Fear of exposing perpetrators of the violence has made the culprits even more aggressive. We have seen authorities acting only after the media expose teachers long after they have impregnated several girls. Many parents, out of fear, would rather settle incestuous or rape cases against their daughters out of court. This makes the offenders carry on their acts with impunity. Worse, the punishment for such crimes is wanting.

Nominated MP Njoki Ndungu’s Sexual Offences Bill that could have largely helped deter violence, especially against women, was diluted during debate in Parliament before it was passed into law.

The challenge is to continue the campaign to insulate women against all harmful practices.