Zipporah Kittony: I have done my bit

When Dr Zipporah Kittony received news that US university wanted to award her a Doctorate degree for her humanitarian work that has spanned decades, she almost collapsed with joy.

At the graduation ceremony in Thika, Zipporah, moved by the honour being bestowed on her, wept unashamedly. She spoke to NJOKI KARUOYA about her life’s journey.

Someone called and told me they had a letter for me from the US. I was at my farm in Kitale so I asked them to send it by Securicor.

When I got it and opened it the next day, I just couldn’t believe it. I started screaming alone! The letter said the United Graduate College University in Tennessee, USA, had recognised my efforts and was awarding me a doctorate for the humanitarian work I have done over the years.

The US professors came to Kenya to award me the doctorate at Gresta University in Thika. Hopefully, before the end of this year, I will travel to that university and see what they do.

Since receiving the letter, I have been digging into my archives and you will be surprised that I have material from the 1970s that reports on the work I did for the youth and women.

When I look at my scrapbooks I am surprised. For instance, I was part of the team that planned Unep’s coming to Kenya and the women’s decade in Nairobi, and these are just a few of the things I accomplished.

The recognition by United Graduate College University is not my first important citation. In 1999, the American Biographical Institute gave me an award as the woman of the year.

I have been involved with women issues for years. I was in Mexico in 1975 for the world women’s decade conference. I was also the first woman elected to chair an agricultural society in this country. So I have made history in my own little way without realising it.

leadership programme

As I was growing up, we didn’t have many girls’ schools in the Rift Valley. We only had Kapsabet Girls’ High School. I didn’t go to university, but I have done a lot of reading on my own.

In the 1970s, I did a project with the World Assembly of Youth Programme that taught young people discipline and how to be self-sufficient. I organised workshops and seminars for the youth. I feel proud when I meet the people who came to my programme and are now independent men.

I was in Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) for eleven years, and I’m proud to say what I did is still being felt.

I promoted economic empowerment for women, which was my first priority. I also promoted leadership training with women and that is why you see a lot of women taking up leadership positions today.

The programme on the eradication of female genital mutilation (FGM) was also one of my passionate projects. We did elaborate work around the country, although FGM is still practised in a little way. MYWO worked aggressively to reach out to communities in Meru, Maasai-land and other areas where it was practised.

Fighting culture and beliefs was a hindrance when educating women to be better.

donors leave

Many donors withdrew from MYWO during my time saying the organisation was a Kanu affair. This was unfortunate because I was and still is a Kanu person. I had the right to choose which political party to associate with, but thank God we still managed to do our work until I retired because well-wishers supported us.

I owe a lot of gratitude to the pioneers who started the Maendeleo House building, which is an income-generating project. That is how we survived.

The Government rarely gave us financial support for our programmes but we had a cordial relationship. Whenever we wanted to visit a place, we informed the provincial administration and they would give us officers to accompany us.

Besides the FGM programme, I had a challenging project in Coast Province. Maternity services were not accessible to women so we started maternity homes in Malindi, Kilifi, Kwale and Taita. When I was inaugurating one near Malindi, a baby was born and named after me.

In Western Kenya, many women suffered from cervical cancer and died due to lack of medical attention. They now have access to facilities in the hospitals and go for regular check-up.

Today, I’m happy that I have done my bit and women recognise me for that. I was in Embu recently and women were calling me to give talks here and there.

Close-knit family

My family supports me a lot in all my endeavours. I am a proud mother of three children — two boys and one daughter. All are married. My eldest son is an army officer, the second one, Kiprono Kittony, is a successful businessman-cum-lawyer based in Nairobi and my daughter is a practising lawyer.

I’m also a proud grandmother of ten plus grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren. I am proud of the Christian upbringing I received from my parents, which I also applied with my family.

I did not work aggressively when my children were young. I started serious work in the 1970s when most of them were in primary school. I am proud of my close-knit family. At least three times every year, we have family holidays either outside or within the country. Every Christmas, we congregate in Kitale and have a good time. I love and treasure those moments.

In my free time I play golf and I belong to several clubs. I also help in charity work wherever there is need. When I’m at home I watch television.

I also work for the Church. I have helped build many churches. I’m a member of the AIC and right now I’m building a church near my home in Kitale where I have a farm.

I love being at my farm in Kitale. I enjoy sitting there watching my cows and chickens running around (laughs). I also deal in food crops for local consumption.

I commute between Nairobi and Kitale every two weeks. I don’t know whether any of my children will be farmers as none has shown any indication of joining me in Kitale (laughter). But I’m glad a few of my grandchildren are interested and enjoy coming to the farm. Sadly, many farmers in Kenya are not successful because farming here is dependent on weather conditions. The Government also does not help much.

Can you imagine we are still waiting for the cereals board to pay for last year’s harvest? The Government has a responsibility to its farmers and should address their issues. It should make the rules of the game simpler for the farmer. People are abandoning farming because it is costly. Farmers are now selling their land and what was agricultural land is being used to develop property.

I’m happy with myself and would encourage others to be transparent and learn to love. I have helped orphans and educated many girls.

I thank God for the life I have led. I want to encourage women to work hard so that they can be appreciated for their work. The sky is the limit for our women.

I also thank God for my family and the people I have worked with.