Sports key to empowering Kenyan women

NAIROBI: At the conclusion of his visit to the country last year, US President Barack Obama called on Kenyans to stop discrimination against women. In response to Obama’s call and in line with the International Women’s Day theme of committing to action that accelerates gender parity, we must now identify and pursue clear pathways leading to this goal. Such measures are vital, not only to improve the daily lives of half our population, but also, as Obama reminded us, to enhance Kenya’s competitive strength in a globalised economy — for the benefit of men and women.

As the director at MTG, an organisation that promotes football for girls, I was delighted at the president’s fortuitous use of a sports metaphor to drive home his message about girls’ and women’s rights: “Imagine if you have a team and don’t let half of the team play. That’s stupid. That makes no sense.” For me and my colleagues at MTG, however, sport is more than an apt metaphor; it is the practical means by which thousands of girls are today breaking down barriers to the realisation of their potential.

Like all sports, football is a miniature version of the real world, which is demanding and competitive. But unlike other sports, it is accessible to nearly everyone. So, what better way for large numbers of girls to learn about leadership, teamwork, and discipline in their daily lives? And what better entry point for introducing them to other skills and knowledge that can enrich their lives and the lives of families and communities?

As a lawyer and advocate for justice, I am well aware that political and legal action are important tools for combating the violation of girls’ and women’s rights. But I have also found that better policies and laws mean little without individual initiative supported by effective grassroots action.

In fact, it was my frustration with the process of seeking legal redress for victims of sexual violence that ultimately lead me to this conclusion. What I learned from my work with MTG is that we can make discrimination less likely by helping girls become less vulnerable as well as more resourceful and resilient — qualities that are necessary for success in sport and life.

The stories of two girls who have benefitted from the work of MTG illustrate exactly what I mean. Esse Mbeyu Akida now plays with the Kenyan women’s national football team.  Fatuma Kahindi has surmounted obstacles of a different sort, becoming a skilled mechanic and proprietor of a motorcycle parts business.

I think it’s fair to say that MTG has offered proof of concept for the potential of sports as a catalyst of women’s advancement in Kenya. The next logical step is to position sports for development more strategically in the forefront of our national development agenda.