Kenyan’s new constitution is not only a historic landmark for Kenya, but a milestone in the East African women’s rights movement.
It has opened the widest space for women’s participation in public decision making, more so through Article 27, Kenya has joined its sister countries of East Africa in the use of constitutional quotas to advance women’s political participation.
The basic premise is that the participation of women in decision-making roles in the public and private sectors is a human right, and will lead to more equitable development outcomes.
But the women aspirants are a worried lot as it seems to them to unlikely participate in the coming elections freely due to lack of funds and violence that is often meted on aspiring female contestants by male opponents.
“Hidden barriers in organizational cultures, social stereotypes, lack of skills and resources, including information and time, often work to undermine women’s ability to succeed in leadership roles,” the chairperson, National Gender and Equality Commission Winfred Lichuma said.
Read more at Coastweek, published 24-30 August 2012.
Kenyan’s new constitution is not only a historic landmark for Kenya, but a milestone in the East African women’s rights movement.
It has opened the widest space for women’s participation in public decision making, more so through Article 27, Kenya has joined its sister countries of East Africa in the use of constitutional quotas to advance women’s political participation.
The basic premise is that the participation of women in decision-making roles in the public and private sectors is a human right, and will lead to more equitable development outcomes.
But the women aspirants are a worried lot as it seems to them to unlikely participate in the coming elections freely due to lack of funds and violence that is often meted on aspiring female contestants by male opponents.
“Hidden barriers in organizational cultures, social stereotypes, lack of skills and resources, including information and time, often work to undermine women’s ability to succeed in leadership roles,” the chairperson, National Gender and Equality Commission Winfred Lichuma said.
Read more at Coastweek, published 24-30 August 2012.