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.

Protect family

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.

Created first

Having created man first and after living with him for a while, God must have observed and appreciated that man needed a softer, more sober take on things. Granted, man was physically strong and, if unchecked, he could use this ‘strength’ negatively, resulting in destruction.

Just try and imagine, for a moment, a world dominated by men. What do you see? Men killing each other at will courtesy of their gigantic competitive nature; killing animals for sport; exercising their mental agility and experimenting with explosions, gizmos and scientific trials.... Wow! The world would be a dangerous place to live in!

One rib

Enter the woman. When God put man to sleep and picked ONE rib (not many) to fix into His most beautiful creature – the woman – He did not do that so that woman would be man’s slave. No!

God did that so that woman would have some insights into the nature of man, and thus help him realise God’s vision for the world, because by himself, man is easily distracted.

Once we all understand this, we can stop being so vicious about women wielding any sort of power and being leaders, and appreciate that it is all in God’s plan so that we can work together towards one goal – creating a harmonious, peaceful and wonderful world and environment for all of us to live in.

So, let’s share power and enjoy happiness.

This is the theme of this Saturday’s Eve Sisters forum at the Hilton Hotel where presidential aspirant Martha Karua, nominated MP Rachel Shebesh,  Infotrack’s CEO Angela Ambitho and relationship expert Jennifer Karina will speak about how women can use their God-given skills to influence the creation of this world I’m talking about; where national development is the foremost agenda — both at home, at the workplace and in Government.

Come join us. It starts at 9am.