By Njoki Karuoya
In many cultures, power is often not associated with women. It is largely considered a preserve of men, which would explain why more men are in positions of leadership compared to women.
Nevertheless, women can contribute, and immensely, to the power structure. At the home, for instance, where men are the ordained leaders, women are instrumental to its smooth running.
For millenniums, women have proved that their management skills are unmatched, what with the God-given ability to multi-task and thus bring order to their homes.
A woman will manage her husband and his income, take care of the children, the house help and still ensure that the home is clean and functional.
Remove the woman from that scenario and chaos emerges, which can only be put to some order by the entry of another woman.
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This is the same woman who will also work, be it on the shamba, at an office or on the streets hustling as an entrepreneur, as a means of livelihood to feed, shelter, clothe and protect her family. Many homes today, and businesses, are run by women because the men have either passed on or moved on to either the urban centres or to other families.
In areas where civil strife or cattle rustling is still an ongoing activity, women are the ones left behind to manage the families. Following the 2008 post-election violence, for instance, in spite of being raped, their spouses and/or children killed and properties destroyed, women continued to be the cement that kept the family together, despite the physical pain and heartache.
Sadly, society continues to ignore, or take for granted, women’s unique management skills. If harnessed properly, women can take societies to greater heights, but because they are largely treated like second-class citizens, their contribution is considered inconsequential.
If only men could agree to share power, or at the very least delegate some of it, for the smooth and efficient running of homes, businesses, offices, communities, counties and the country at large, the world would be a very happy place to live in, and not the mess it is currently in.
The good thing is, an increasing number of men have come to appreciate this unique take on power and leadership. They have sat back and objectively analysed the different strengths and weaknesses of each gender and realised that, for development to be realised and enjoyed, men and women have to work together. This is the reason why God created the two of us – man and woman.
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