Breaking the gender ceiling

There is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about-Oscar Wilde

This is true because everyone wants to be remembered and talked about because of the things they did while alive. For one to leave a lasting legacy, they should ensure barriers that prevent their prosperity are broken.

It is therefore every woman’s dream to leave a legacy in their space that is within their family, at work place and the environment around them.

This was the message that Eve Sisters in collaboration with Kisumu County Women Leadership Caucus brought to Kisumu on their first visit on November 29 under the theme ‘Breaking the Gender Ceiling’.

The function kicked off with The Standard on Saturday Deputy Managing Editor, Dorcas Muga-Odumbe challenging women to take their rightful positions and not just be comfortable with being seen since men take advantage of them.

She said Eve Sisters Forums are intended to bring women together to brainstorm and be inspired to build the nation.

Kisumu County Women Leaders Caucus’ chairperson, Mary Odhiambo, was grateful that Kisumu was the third county visited by the sisters after Nairobi and Mombasa.

She believes introduction of the forum to Kisumu was wise and will help women rise to leadership and decision making positions in line with the objective of the caucus.

“We are here to lobby for women in leadership positions to rise and retain the positions since that is the mandate of the caucus. We are here to see women take up decision making positions,” she says.

Know your rights

After giving the background about the caucus and their expectations from the key speakers, Eve Sisters Moderator Njoki Karuoya called the first speaker whom she referred to as a great woman — Executive Director Kenya Female Advisory Organisation (Kefeado) Easter Achieng.

She began with a challenge to the women by asking where policies are done between County and National Government. She said,” The problem is, we do not know our constitutional and participation rights. Budget making processes have begun. When did they start? In August. What will change if you have not read the documents? Nothing”.

Easter told Kisumu women to be aggressive to get power, since it is never given on a silver platter but can only be achieved if one understands policy issues.

“Nothing will change if we do not know what is happening around us. If we know what is happening around us, we will lobby for strong health policies to reduce maternal deaths,” Easter said.

“Issues of County Government are in schedule four and five of the constitution. If as women we do not know what is contained there, policies will be passed that we do not understand. She therefore recommended that adult education centres be added in Kisumu because currently there is only one in Kaloleni estate.

For her, mentorship is key especially for young women who usually assume the role of flowers by being colourful through dancing in serious meetings yet when serious issues are raised they are inaudible.

“We will do great things if we turn our presence into positions of influence. We are not just quorum formers, we want to see them participate more vividly and with content,” she said.

She said women’s movements should be worthy talking about and challenged those in leadership to be proactive in the assemblies by ensuring proper representation.

After the presentation, Maseno University’s Director in the Institute of Gender Studies Dr Caren Nyangara took the stage with a well-founded message calling for a break of gender ceiling.

“As women sometimes we rise and rise but reach a place we can no longer rise. That means we have reached a ceiling that blocks them, yet in many circumstances men do not reach the ceiling,” Dr Caren said.

She challenged elected and nominated women leaders to ensure their work talk for them so that they may get elected to higher positions.

“Whether a political, religious or economic position, if you have to change, what is it that will speak for you to avoid being replaced? To me that is education,” she said.

She added that when one achieves something, they should move on to something higher than they got before.

“Ask yourself whether your ambition and achievement match each other and get to know what you are afraid of. The only thing you should be afraid of is your heart and mind because they limit how far you will go in this world,” she challenged the women in attendance before sitting down.

Njoki took over and asked for a volunteer who led people into singing a Luo chorus as an ice breaker before she called Rialto Fashions’ Lucy Rao.

Lucy started by altering the partner of speaking in English and Swahili and leaving Luo, and for that matter she began her presentation in that language.

She started by quoting Proverbs 31:25 that states, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.

She also believes that dress code helps boost the confidence of women and encourages them to be both role and fashion models.

Hands of women

“This means God is gender sensitive and He knows about fashion. He knows that fashion is about women and hence he put clothes and strength together inside a woman. How do we look at ourselves as women in a way that makes this verse from the Bible represent us?”

Lucy said she believes that the world is in the hands of women. She encouraged them to be steadfast and always bear in mind what defines them if they have any intentions of making big steps in life.

A woman is a very powerful person. Once you give birth you realize you can make that child into what you want them to be. Whether a president or a thug, it depends with the upbringing,” she says.

She expressed her disappointment by the fact that Kisumu women are not aggressive and do not go for big things.

“If you hear there is an Eve Forum in Kisumu, you should know that it is something you should not miss as a woman. We need to elevate our level of curiosity and go for what is there,” she says.

She believes in a woman standing out and being counted for doing unique things.

“You need to make a difference and this is seen in how you dress. For the dignity of women to be upheld, the dressing is a very important aspect,” Rao says.

After that, she led the women in a very engaging act; cat walk. All the women sang and swung their hips as they enjoyed the session.

Then came in the main guest: Kisumu County Executive Member for Education, Youth, Culture & Social Services, and Jennifer Kere who began by telling stories of inspirational women.

“A woman who got married at 11 years was buried a week ago. By the time of her death, all her 12 children had succeeded in life. She left a legacy,” she began.

She gave another story about a woman who sired 12 children despite her husband having affairs that led to the birth of 40 others whom she educated to form four level single handed after the man died.

“Women are strong and they should therefore ensure they are visible. Every woman has to be talked about either positively or negatively,” she reiterates.

Jennifer said all women have a duty to show humility and use it as their strength, not in accepting what is wrong but to push for what is right.

She insists that even with the humility, women must survive regardless of the situation they are going through because God has given women strength that ensures they can survive through thick and thin.

Women should be patient even when confronted with hostility. Patience and fear of conflict will take you a step further beyond those who are in battle with you. Retreat as if you are weak, that is the most wise and strong way of handling issues. A position of weakness will always lift you higher,” she insisted.

She also pointed out a great feature that characterizes women; the wisdom that does not need going to school. Wisdom exercised even by mentally challenged women who know that they have to feed their children.

Every month, nine cases of abuse reported in Kisumu which she estimates to be about five per cent. While the rest go unreported.

Women have great works and great brains. Some of these things really do not need schooling but education to know how to handle issues in a wise way.

“I am against the mushrooming of universities because it makes our people discriminate against those who have not been there,” she said.

Jennifer also encouraged technical education and advised women to embrace education that gives one functional literacy and not just mere theories.

To the mothers she said: This should change let s help our daughters not get lured into partnership with men”.

She insists that a woman should operate outside the box and not within measured parameters of what the society expects of them.

“Women should not be intimidates with challenges like being measured with marital status etc. Let us support fellow women even in leadership. Let us organize such forums like Eve Sisters in Kisumu more often,” said Jennifer.

A few minutes to 2pm, the function came to a close with Standard Group Brand Manager Catherine Maribei appreciating the fact that the speakers extensively addressed the intended theme.

“The forum focused on several issues within a woman’s life with the main agenda being success in family, work and business,” she said.