Fear of women’s abilities still reign high

By Rosemary Okello

In Kenya Affirmative Action is viewed as a way of giving women easy options, especially in political leadership.

Attempts to make sure affirmative action becomes law — in a country that prided itself as having hosted the third UN Conference of women in Africa — has been marred with sideshows and arguments that have seen the Bill either thrown out of Parliament or excuses given as to why Parliament cannot pass it.

Looking at what is going on in Kenya, lack of political will has been the stumbling block.

In countries where Affirmative Action has worked, political will has taken precedence.

Rwanda, for instance, has the highest number of women in decision-making positions, which currently stands at 51.5 per cent.

Former South African President of Nelson Mandela, left a rich legacy by creating space for South African women to participate in public life and as citizens. It is his understanding of leadership.

On April 23, 1997, when then MP Phoebe Asiyo begged to move the Motion on women’s participation in politics, popularly known as Affirmative Action Bill, it was a stepping stone for women’s issues to be discussed in Parliament.

The Affirmative Action Motion’s aim was to compensate for the absence of women representatives in elective offices from grassroots to the national level and up to policymaking organs. According to Asiyo, the Affirmative Action provision commits not only the Government, but also political parties to nominate a third OF women candidates to participate in the National Assembly as well as local authorities’ elections.

She says the Constitutional amendments she proposed would have enabled women candidates from political parties to contest two parliamentary seats in each Province. Saying there can never be democracy without the political and decision making involvement of 50 per cent of the population, representation of women in political parties, Parliament and local authorities will bring a different perspective in politics.

Bring a different perspective

The Affirmative Action Motion debate was defeated, evidence enough that after 34 years of independence, Parliament and the Government had no real interest in gender equity.

Arguments that Affirmative Action goes against African tradition ring hollow. The counter argument has been that tradition is conveniently used to continue the oppression of women and retention of power by African men, who are in many ways far removed from the traditions they pretend to uphold.

In being asked to support Affirmative Action, MPs were not being asked to elect women. They were being asked to ensure each party included more women candidates among the nominees presented to the electorate.

When Beth Mugo re-introduced the Bill on April 12, 2000, she told the House it was just a temporary measure to give women a chance to run the same race as men.

But those opposing the Motion argued that women could fight their way through and use their numbers to win more seats than men.

And even though the Motion was passed, the issue was again taken to the Constitutional Review process, where the Bomas and Wako drafts recognised Affirmative Action as one of the principle clauses within the Constitution.

Looking back, the Affirmative Action journey has been laced with a ping-pong mentality. There is a saying that no nation ever rises above the extent to which it holds women in bondage.

It follows that the attitude of male leaders towards their female compatriots must be one of the key yardsticks of their leadership.

As we celebrate the International Women’s Day, we should learn two lessons from Mandela’s life: To challenge our own socialisation, as he did by striving for equal representation and partnership between women and men, and to feminise our understanding of leadership, the real secret behind the miracle that is Mandela.

If we did, the world would be a happier and safer place for all.

—Rosemary Okello is Executive Diretor AWC