I am moved to tears as these women
sing for my colleagues and I. By the look, some of them are my age mates
though in their own words ‘we are from two different worlds'.
They
perceive me as one from Kenya and themselves as just people. Maybe it's
because of my complexion or my jeans and t-shirt. They are all dressed
in long flowing diras and a head gear. I sport a cap. Most of them have
a child on their back swith a few others around; they tell us that most
of them have six to seven children. They probably can tell I haven't
given birth. They do not sit near the men, in fact most had to ask for
permission to meet us.
These are women from the northern part
of Kenya. Married at a very young age, denied opportunities because
there it is a man's world. My colleagues and I talk to them and get
to hear their issues. They include lack of income generating projects,
water, insecurity, discrimination and violence both sexual and physical.
Our mission to Laisamis in Marsabit
district was to start a project to address the sexual maturity and hygienic
menstruation practices of young girls in Northern part of Kenya.
These women broaden our mission and I am constantly thinking of ways
to assist them. Who will speak for them, on the problem of substandard
and inadequate health care? On the fact that they are not regarded as
equally entitled to health care resources and their needs are often
secondary to men and children?
Who is to blame when these women are
unaware of their right to decide on the number of children to have and
the spacing between them? On their right to family planning method of
their choice? Of their children's right to education?
As we mark yet another International
Women's Day, I grapple with these issues which are just a tip of the
iceberg. I think of the women's movement in Kenya and its role in
reaching out to other women in marginalized communities. I think of
the role of the government in ensuring that every Kenyan enjoys their
human rights. I think of the woman I saw yesterday on NTV's Strength
of a woman-a traditional birth attendant. The shocking bit was that
most of the women who sought her services are young women. Not to say
that she is not competent or anything like that, on the contrary the
young women preferred her to hospitals because she takes very good care
of them. This is a heroine who is little recognized today as we celebrate
the IWD!
Still, it's our day as women, young,
black, white, learned, unlearned, you name it.
So today I celebrate my mother, who
as been there for me long before I left her womb, who has stood with
me in bad and good times, who prays for me even when I don't remember
to do so. I celebrate my grandmother, who is always herself, funny,
strict, hardworking and a pillar to lean on. I celebrate my girlfriends
for making my life count. I celebrate the Kenyan woman for all the things
she puts up with and for the fact that she is making progress in claiming
her rights as a citizen of this country. I celebrate the African woman,
for spreading her tentacle across the globe, for her courage and being
proud of her roots and believing in Africa.
I celebrate every woman for being a
mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife, a sister-in-law; mother-in-law,
a teacher, a doctor, a scientist, a writer, the list is endless.
Happy Women's Day
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