Yes, we must support women to occupy rightful space in society

This was International Women’s Week. As a committed believer in gender equity, I want to say this; we cannot be a fully developed society, calling ourselves civilised, when by culture, tradition, policy and law we keep one half of our population in the margins. Women in this country and continent remain by and large second-class citizens.

No one dissects this issue better than Njonjo Mue in his blog piece “Children of a lesser God” which includes his twin sister’s story. Because of discrimination’s historical and culturally entrenched roots, allowing women their rightful space in society requires deliberate constitutionally grounded affirmative action but also a reformation of societal views on women. Few of us are aware that our old constitution, celebrating our traditional attitudes towards women, permitted discrimination based on gender. In contrast, the 2010 Constitution is unapologetic in its support for gender equality. It constitutionalises affirmative action allowing special seats for women in various legislative bodies and requiring that in all spheres of life, Kenya ensures no one gender has an unreasonable access to public resources and opportunities; the now famous “not more than two thirds” principle.