First Lady wants women MPs to back family Bills

By Augustine Oduor and Peter Opiyo

First Lady Lucy Kibaki has challenged women MPs to spearhead passage and implementation of the three family Bills.

She said the women representatives in Parliament should ensure the Family Protection Bill, in particular, that seeks to address violence is enacted soon. The Bills, she said, will help champion the cause of women.

"I ask the legislators to use their strength to influence the enactment and full implementation of these Bills to cushion the women from gender based violence," she said.

In a statement read on her behalf by Gender, Children and Social Development Minister Naomi Shaban, during a ceremony to mark the International Women’s Day, the First Lady said if implemented, the Bills would protect women.

The day marked yesterday was under the theme: Equal access to Education, Training Science and Technology: Pathway to Decent Work for Women.

Mrs Kibaki also acknowledged the gains realised towards gender parity.

Ida Odinga with Ms Deloris Jordan at a Nairobi hotel during the celebrations Tuesday. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

"We have equal access to free education to promote child education, affirmative action has also been introduced for the girls in various areas. The practice of retrogressive cultures is also in the decline. These are some of the gains realised by the Government," she said.

She said following enactment of the new Constitution, women have been thrust into the limelight and can now enjoy basic rights unhindered.

Dr Shaban said the passage of the Family Protection, Marriage and Matrimonial Property Bills would protect the welfare of women.

"To address domestic violence, these Bills must be enacted. I urge fellow parliamentarians to pass these three crucial pending Bills to protect welfare and rights of women," she said.

Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation chairperson Rukia Subow disclosed that gender-based violence has increased by three per cent.

"We have had an increase in reports on gender based violence and this is because women have known their rights than before. This is also a result of increasing drugs and substance abuse," she said.

Separately, the US Ambassador to Kenya Michael Ranneberger and Gichugu MP Martha Karua have urged women to use the new Constitution and bring about change.

Speaking during the centenary International Women’s Day event at Hotel Intercontinental, Nairobi, Mr Ranneberger said it is upon women to ensure change is realised.

Change agents

"These celebrations come at a momentous time in Kenya’s history and the responsibility that you have as women is to participate in the country’s transformational process. This would move this country forward," he said.

Ms Karua said time has come for women to be the catalyst in the anticipated change and that they should seize the opportunity to make this happen.

"It is time we considered what each can do to make the transformation we want a reality," she said.

The Kenya Women and Children’s Wellness Centre Director Deloris Jordan said women need to empower one another to change the world.

"Let us establish change that will solve problems from East Africa to West Africa to North Africa and to South Africa," said Mrs Jordan, mother of basketball star Michael Jordan.