The Gender & Governance Programme in Kenya - Affirmative Action Is No Handout

"Transforming leadership and governance at all levels in Kenya in order to deliver on poverty reduction, access to basic needs and equality between and among persons."

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Usawa Newsletter

Affirmative Action Is No Handout

Tony Gachoka, Political Analyst

I think women have been short changed in terms of political representation. It is time the leadership for political parties to lead the way. If the minimum reforms package is constituted we would like to see 24 women nominated to parliament so that we increase from 12 to 36 the current nominated members of parliament. The actual position is that the woman is the greatest contributor in the home; they fetch firewood, carry water, bear children and after nine long hours in a day, comes home to cook and care for her family. It is a very heavy burden for anyone to carry. I think it is urgent and important that the African woman’s contribution in economic generation of this nation is commensurate to her representation in the political affairs. Affirmative action is not really a handout; in my view it is properly earned.
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From Steve Kabucho, Advocate

When it comes to legislation everybody knows that women sometimes have a much sober way of looking at things again I guess that’s where our parliament has failed. A lot of men are just driven by politics and politics alone. It has nothing to do with the economy, it has nothing to do with what is good for Kenyan’s, it has nothing to do with logic it is just politics. If they want to shoot down something for the parliament they shoot it down. In my view women will be driven by some sense of responsibility.
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From Matia Mandela, ICT Expert- Computer for Schools Kenya.

I hold strongly that women in Kenya should be empowered. I believe it is important to put women in leadership positions. For so long, women in Kenya have been marginalized in very many respects and I think it is time Kenya started walking into the direction that the rest of the world is headed. The world is making great steps in terms of gender equality, governance and including women into leadership positions. Look at Uganda for instance, Rwanda and many other countries around Africa which have made Affirmative Action an issue of national importance much that Affirmative Action is law. Kenya can not afford to walk alone. Neither can Kenya afford to walk in the opposite direction. Read more

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