By Ally Jamah
NAIROBI; KENYA: President Kibaki has called on women to fight for elective positions in the coming General Election instead of sitting back and expecting positions.
Speaking yesterday while leading the celebrations to mark 60 years since the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) was started, the President said women now enjoy equal rights with men.
Kibaki, however, said women ought to push hard to actualise those rights on the ground, which would help them take charge in transforming the country.
He said the Government has created an enabling environment for women to flourish in the political, economic and social development of the country, citing the new Constitution, which guarantees significant rights for women.
These include the creation of elective and nominated seats in the National Assembly set aside for women, elimination of gender discrimination in relation to land and property as well as rights to inheritance and unbiased access to land,” he said at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.
The President pledged that the Government would continue to work with other relevant stakeholders to ensure the socio-economic status of women is greatly improved and their participation and visibility in the political arena is increased.
Vice-President of Malawi Khumbo Kachali said his country’s leader, President Joyce Banda, was a product of the MYWO and said that Africa should entrust more leadership positions to women rather than sticking to old mindsets.
“We have noticed great improvements in the management of our country since she took over and that shows that women can also deliver great results,” he said.
MYWO National Chairperson Rukia Subow said her organisation boasts of a nationwide network of at least four million individual members and at least 25,000 affiliate members.
