Murang’a women outshine men politically, economically

Men in Murang’a County will soon be overtaken by women both in political and economic fields, County Commissioner Mohammed Barre has said.

Speaking in Murang’a town, he said women are becoming more independent while more and more men are losing their grip as heads of their families.

“It is unfortunate that as men make merry imbibing, women are becoming self-made millionaires instead of them partnering to build their families,” he said. 

The administrator added that while the government is committed to levelling the ground for both genders, women have proved to be focused in development agendas.

Loan uptake

“Women continue to be our good customers in borrowing and repaying loans as men keep off the funds and later show up in bars soliciting for beer as they complain of poverty,” said Mr Barre. 

He noted that out of the seven legislators in the county, three are women.

These are Magarua MP Mary Waithera, Kandara’s Alice Wahome and Kigumo’s Ruth Wangari, making it the only county with 43 per cent legislative representation in the National Assembly. 

 Mr Barre said he is proud to serve in a county that has hardworking women.

“My only worry is that men are taking too much alcohol and they are the ones giving us trouble by brewing chang’aa and selling bhang,” he said.

Women chamas

Education Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia, who accompanied Mr Barre during  disbursement of Sh18.3 million Women Enterprise Fund to women groups in the area, said the county has vibrant women chamas that save as little as Sh10 per day and the pooled resources implementing big projects in the economic front.

Mr Kinuthia said Murang’a women are among the top three nationwide in uptake of the fund and have a good repayment history.

“As a native of this county and also a  proud son to a hardworking woman who educated me to this level by doing casual labour, I salute our women as we urge the majority of our men to wake up and smell the coffee,” he said.

Immersed in alcohol

 Mr Kinuthia added: “Equality should not be construed to usher the girl child on a highway as the boy child gets forced to the bumpy single lane.”

 The CAS said men should realise there is a competition where women, out of personal and groups initiatives, are making informed and progressive choices as men pursue recognition by cultural beliefs.

 “You cannot be an effective head while immersed yourself in alcohol and evading police handcuffs and bullets in crime. You cannot be a head in an environment where your woman is working hard to earn Sh100 and you have earned Sh10. It is a classic case of logic that equality is, she makes Sh100 and you make Sh100,” he said.