This week the International Women’s Day was marked with pomp in many parts of the globe. For a few countries like Kenya, there were at least few reasons to celebrate. While we have far to go, we have definitely made some strides in gender equality and women’s rights since 1995 when Nyiva Mwendwa was appointed as Kenya’s first and only woman minister.
In the 1980s, Dr Julia Ojiambo had been the only cabinet member as an assistant minister. Notably, the two had been relegated to the Ministry of Culture and Social Services in which women issues were lumped.