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Why The Women Representatives Are Failing Women

Crazy World
Black women movement                    Is the women leadership movement failing? Photo: courtesy

By Shirley Genga

I will never forget voting on March 4; the very idea that I was voting for a Woman Representative for the first time in the history of Kenya gave me goose bumps and much joy as the idea of a feminist revolution (over the tyranny of men) coursed through my veins.

Finally, Parliament was not only going to get a much needed sense of style in huge doses, but women would finally take over the august House, or at least try, and cause a revolution of positive change for all Kenyan women.

When the final results were announced, 16 women had been elected as Members of Parliament, 19 women had been nominated as senators, and there were 47 Women Representatives.

I dreamt that our women leaders would lead from the front in defending women rights. And because we finally had the numbers, I imagined our women leaders would rally together and use their numbers as a bargaining tool to push our agenda. Remember, they say you empower one woman; you empower a whole village (or something like that).

We were supposed to see some noticeable sparks by now. So I waited with bated breath for the whole political ball game to change, or at least sway a little.

Unfortunately, it has been over 100 days since the swearing-in, and the way things are going, we may never see any sparks. Even asking for smoke at this point is like asking for too much.

There seems to be no agenda at play, no unity of thought or purpose, or worse, even a leader. Everyone is in their own corner fighting for other people’s (political) agendas.

Do not get me wrong: Not everyone is asleep. There are a notable few who are vocal and active. Unfortunately, the majority seem to believe they were taken to parliament to sit pretty and smile.

They need to wake up and do something — anything! They need to hire a good PR company, take up a cause and be very vocal.

It is not that hard to pick up a cause to champion in Parliament. Look at the VAT Bill (2013), for example. If the Bill is passed, the cost of living will rise and create artificial poverty. And when poverty prevails, women suffer most.

Everyday things like sanitary pads, kerosene, mosquito nets, milk, flour, hospital equipment and medical drugs purchased across the counter will be heavily taxed. 

Young girls all over Kenya will not only struggle to get basic meals, but soon, even the idea of having sanitary towels will be akin to reaching for the stars.

But where is the righteous anger, the rumbling thunderstorms of outrage? All I seem to hear is numbing silence!

We have the largest number of women, but nothing. I am tired of some of the excuses women give for their inability to bring forth any difference — like lack of finances and access to power and blah blah blah. Yet when they get power and the resources, they fail to represent adequately.

Where are our iron ladies, our Margaret Thatchers and Hillary Clintons? Where are they?

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