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It’s a new dawn with phenomenal women
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan making her address at Parliament buildings, Nairobi, on May 5, 2021 during the joint sitting of parliament.
It is our turn to shine!
They have shaken the table, they are breaking things and are persistent. Yes, women have broken through the glass ceiling. I mean, Kamala Harris is the Vice President of the United States, the World Trade Organisation is headed by a Nigerian, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Samia Suluhu is the President of Tanzania and Lady Justice Martha Koome is about to make history in the coming weeks to become Kenya’s first female Chief Justice.
This is undeniably historic. Each of these women is a trendsetter and what they mean for women in the world is extraordinary.
For Kenyan women witnessing this momentous era, we can’t even measure it because when we see one of our own lead Kenya’s third arm of government, we see what’s possible for us. Justice Koome’s feat is a historic moment for our country and I hope it paves the way for more women to put themselves forward, including for the presidency in the 2022 General Election.
She stands on the shoulders of those who came before her. She joins a long list of Kenyan women to have been the first to accomplish incredible feats with the odds against them among them Wangari Maathai, Justice Effie Owuor, Charity Ngilu, Nyiva Mwenda, Phoebe Asiyo, Grace Onyango and Chelagat Mutai.
These firsts are a significant marker of how far women have come in leadership although there are still only a few of us in these spaces. Globally, women make up only 25 per cent of parliaments, which means we still do not have equal power to shape policies that promote gender equity.
The advancement of women into key leadership roles in the recent past is, however, a positive sign of change. This wave can have a ripple effect since research has shown that an increase of women in public office can inspire more young women to consider leadership roles.
So, the fight isn’t over. As we celebrate the CJ-designate, let’s not stop applying pressure to the system. We need to look at the policies held by her new office and continue to apply pressure to represent us in a way that benefits us. Remember the two-thirds gender rule still hangs in the balance.
It is, therefore, important for us all to instigate change, all while celebrating the representation we now have.
This is not the end. It is just the start. This moment reminds me of this random quote that I love: “Here’s to strong women. May we know them. May we be them. May we raise them.”
