Kenya: Women Demand Greater Say in ODM Decision Making

September 4, 2007 - (AllAfrica) The women in the Orange Democratic Movement have called on the party's hierarchy to formulate rules conducive for more women to venture into politics.

Speaking at the party's special delegates convention at the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani last week, the women said party rules should lay a level playing ground during nomination for both civic and parliamentary seats.

The majority of the women delegates said they wanted greater democratisation, stability, security and enhanced development but this could only be realised through greater participation of women in politics.

The party presidential nominee, Mr Raila Odinga, promised that if elected, his government will deal with injustices and inequalities against women and give them more access to factors of production.
Mr Odinga, the Langata MP, promised women more seats in Parliament during the first six months of his administration when a new constitution will be in place.

"The role of women will be crucial to our administration. Women's sensitivity and connections to others is a useful tool in business negotiations. Women are natural at adding value, at pushing boundaries, at being loyal and inspirational and at generally making the world a better place," he said.

Greater representation

In all provinces, constituencies, town councils and municipalities, the women had the same cry, calling for greater representation.

The women took issue with the list of a 20-member delegations saying out of the 210 constituencies, the party picked only four or six women.

They lamented that the number of women represented in the party branches did not reflect one third affirmative action requirement.

Some of the women said they were victims of double lists, which they claimed men politicians "doctored," in order to register their male supporters.

Ms Chepgoskei Chebet, a Keiyo South aspirant said she was a victim of double lists. "I am not on the so-called genuine list, I am on the other list, which has been rejected and I am asking for help," she said.

In the delegations were only a few women involved in medium to large scale enterprises. The majority were small scale business- people.

Mariam Hussein, 40, was in the Dujis delegation from North Eastern Province. She runs a small business but she is also involved in advocacy work through a women's NGO.

She was not able to say when or whether or not, the ODM branch elections were held. Ms Halima Abdi, 40, and a mother of five children, operates a butchery in Garissa. She was nominated to represent Galbet location.

The Malava delegation included Mary Luseno. Ms Luseno said she encountered several problems in the cross border trade between Kenya and Uganda.

She held the view that the Government should enact a law for women to be at the centre of negotiations for prices and regulations governing cross border trade.

She suggested that more women be involved in matters pertaining to the East African Community.
A retired telephone operator at the Ministry of Health, Mrs Leonida Anguba, 47, was a delegate and an aspirant in Lurambi constituency.

Jobless youths

Mrs Anguba, who operates a bar and restaurant, said she saw women and jobless youths suffer and decided to join politics to highlight their views.

Christine Maina, 24, from Mukurweini sell cereals. She said if more women got involved in politics, they will be more enlightened and more women will be educated.

Mr Njeru Abinja from Siakago said leaders with good qualities should be elected. A former Migori mayor, Ms Tuphorse Adawo, 34, blamed men for denying women access to leadership.

"During grassroots elections, men come with full force to trounce women. Last year, we only managed three slots against 17 to make the list of 20. We were rigged out by the men who take advantage of our ignorance and lack of skills in politics. It was not fair and if it continues this way, I don't know where we are heading to as a country," Ms Adawo said.

Among the delegates were designers, hair dressers, dress makers, tailors and handcraft artists. Beatrice Nyambura, 50, a designer, is a chairlady for ODM Starehe branch. She operates a shop in Ziwani but takes time off to tour small scale businesses for the women in the constituency. Ms Nyambura said she would like to see more women elected to Parliament but the candidates should not be self centred or snobbish, arrogant or selfish.

A nurse at Kenyatta National Hospital Dorothy Ogada, 26, was representing the youth from Westlands constituency. Together with Pastor Bella Mfaida, they do charitable work in Kangemi.

"It was a shock to me when I was informed that I was one of the delegates for Kasarani today. These places are highly competitive and require lobbying and waiting for endless hours without any meaningful results."

Pastor Mfaida decried the ever increasing prices of essential commodities saying she hoped for an orange revolution, as the future of the country.

Civic education

A retired teacher from South Mugirango Hellen Nyatundo, 62, said she got interested in politics when she attended Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation meetings.

A business women from Buret, Mrs Josephine Kemtai, 35, who sells potatoes and vegetables in the local market got involved in politics in 1982 as a Kanu member.

Mrs Kemtai's wish is to see more women elected to Parliament so as to empower other women at the grassroots level. Jeddy Mutinda, 39, from Machakos wants civic education for women so they can vote more women to councils and Parliament. maculate Kameme, 40, sells handcrafts in Machakos. She said women were more careful in the utilisation of resources. Aisha Ali, 45, is also a chairlady of Matondeni for MYWO. She called for more empowerment among Muslim communities so men can stop abusing hem. She says some Muslim men have a bad habit of marrying new wives and abandoning the old one with their children.

 

From:http://allafrica.com/stories/200709040184.html