Men crucial allies in gender equality push, says Tuju

Women in Kenya have been urged to change tact in fight against gender inequality.

Cabinet Secretary Raphael Tuju, speaking during the Common Women Agenda (Cowa) webinar dialogue organised by Echo Network Africa, challenged women to involve men in the push for gender equality.  

He said this would create awareness on the need to achieve gender equality.

“Women should make men their allies in the push for gender equality because by not doing so, the status quo will continue making women’s push an effort in futility,” he added.

Cabinet Secretary for Public Service and Gender Prof Margret Kobia supported the call saying shutting out men in the push for equality is counterproductive.

Policies

“Women must have men allies in gender equality push. They should be brought on board. Gender equality should not be men verses women but rather concerted efforts by both genders,” she said.

Echo Network Africa CEO Dr Jennifer Riria said through COWA, women are taking a common stand to engage the government in putting in place policies and legislations that will promote gender equality.

“We purpose to continue in our efforts to ensure we attain the 50-50 threshold,” she said.

Among the speakers who contributed in the discussion included Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, Mary Ellen Kenderian the president and CEO Women’ World Banking (WWB), Phyllis Ombonyo the Chief of Party at Safeguarding Democratic Space-Kenya and Kameri Mbote a professor of law at the University of Nairobi.

Participants took Tuju to task to explain why the government had refused to implement the two-thirds gender rule that would have ensured gender equality is attained in the public service and even the private sector.

Tuju, however, exonerated the government from blame saying MPs failed women by not passing the Bill.

“President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga convinced MPs from both divides to support the bill to no success. This tells you we have some work to do to ensure it is realised,” he said.

Ten years after promulgation of the Constitution 2010, the campaign by women to have the gender bill passed has remained a mirage despite three attempts to have it passed by Parliament.

Building bridges

The women now peg their hope on the Bridging Bridges Initiative (BBI) report which if ratified by Kenyans, will give them a lifeline on the ever elusive two thirds gender rule.

The gender rule is one of the major wins for women in the BBI document as it features prominently among the key pillars to help attain equal representation and inclusivity across the genders in the country.

Catherine Mumma, a former commissioner at the Commission on the Implementation of the new Constitution (CIOC) said the Covid-19 pandemic has brought out a different perspective on the need for gender equality.

“The Covid-19 pandemic is bringing out different scenarios on the need to invest in health, food security as well as gender equality. Majority of doctors and nurses in public hospitals are women. Also majority of those working in farms to ensure food security are women. The pandemic has come to show the need to have social economic rights for everyone,” she said.

National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) commissioner Priscilla Nyokabi called on the government to ensure more women are part of the country and local Covid-19 committees to ensure a gendered approach to addressing the pandemic.