The Centre for Gender Equity and Empowerment in collaboration with the Office of the Kenyatta University Students Association Vice-Chairperson (KUSA) and Kenyatta University Gender Action Movement (KUGAM) celebrated the International Women’s Day on 8th March 2021. The celebrations were held both virtually (zoom) and physically at KUCC, Interaction Hall from 3pm -5pm.
International Women's Day, celebrated every year on 8th March, is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Each year there is a theme associated with the day and this year’s theme was “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world.” The theme celebrates the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. The theme was supported with a campaign theme, “#ChooseToChallenge” that challenges the world to rise up, support gender equality, fight against inequality and support an inclusive world.
IWD is annually held on March 8 to celebrate and recognise women's achievements throughout and across nations. It also a time to reflect on the progress made to the call for change and celebrate acts of courage and determination by women.
This year’s celebration at Kenyatta University was graced by two Chief Guests; Prof. Nancy E. Glass, Associate Director of the John Hopkins Center for Global Health and Hon. Priscilla Nyokabi Kanyua, Commissioner, The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC). The Vice Chancellor, Kenyatta University, Prof. Paul K. Wainaina, also graced the occasion.
In his speech, the Vice-Chancellor, Kenyatta University, Prof. Paul K. Wainaina noted that, although the world has made exceptional advances, no country has achieved gender equality. Women and girls are still facing challenges that are punctuated by poverty, age, education disparities, unchanged laws and stringent cultures. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the existing gender inequalities and stalled progress. The Vice Chancellor urged the participants to recognize and accept the fact that women and girls in Kenya have unlimited potential which has not been exploited due to the multifaceted barriers. Gender-based violence being at the top of the list. It is time to empower women and let them occupy leadership positions and have a voice in decision making and as policy makers for an empowered woman is an empowered world.
Chief Guest, Hon. Priscilla Nyokabi Kanyua, Commissioner, The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) encored that there have been several initiatives developed to promote the inclusion, participation and representation of women in varying sectors of life, all of which have yielded some gains. These gains include the inclusion of gender issues in legal, policy, budgets, plans and institutional frameworks, mainstreaming gender in public and private life, establishing affirmative actions, programs, resources, and setting gender quotas in various sectors that encourage women empowerment. Such initiatives begun as early as 1952 through the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake movement that fought for women rights in the colonial period.
Hon. Nyokabi noted that, despite the efforts made by the government to ensure gender equality and curb discrimination, women and girls in Kenya continue to face structural, cultural, political and institutional barriers. Our male dominated society frowns upon women in leadership. The female population continues to lack adequate resources like land and access to training opportunities in Sciences, Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Further, Hon. Nyokabi recognised trail blazers like Hon. Phoebe Asiyo, Hon. Beth Mugo Hon. Martha Karua and Prof. Wanjiku Kabira for individually and collectively championing for gender equality issues in Kenya. This led to a change in the Constitution of Kenya 2010 that introduced a new chapter for the women of Kenya with gender equality anchored as one of the key national principles.
Hon. Nyokabi concluded by applauding the government for sustained efforts towards women economic empowerment programs during the COVID -19 pandemic and recommended that such efforts should continue even after the pandemic.
Chief Guest, Prof. Nancy E. Glass, Associate Director of the John Hopkins Centre for Global Health, to echo the previous speakers emphasized that, women and girls face gross inequities, both private and public inequities, that we value as a global community for survival. She encouraged women to assert their rights, question their roles in society, challenge power structures, and effect positive social change (Feminist Leadership).
Additionally, Prof. Glass underscored that women shouldn’t simply added onto existing structures, but also transform those structures to allow for women’s meaningful participation and leadership, promote women’s meaningful participation in decision making, from the local to the national level, gender parity on COVID-19-related decision-making bodies and processes, working with local women-led and women’s rights organizations, movements, and leaders to identify barriers that hinder women’s participation in leadership and come up with ways to address and dismantle the barriers and ensure the availability and accessibility of key services such as Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) prevention organisations and facilities
The event ended with a clear message from all the speakers that women and girls are imperative in the process of decision making and therefore need to be empowered by giving the leadership positions. Advocate for inclusion of women policy making processes in spite of nationality, race, linguistic, cultural, political or economic status. Women in leadership is NOT a zero sum game and it is not at the expense of men.
Prof. Judith N. Waudo, Director, Centre for Gender Equity and Empowerment and KU-WEE Hub Leader, delivers her remarks during the International Women’s Day Celebrations on at KUCC Interaction Hall on 8th March 2021
Miss. Martha Nyambane, Vice Chairperson, KUSA makes her remarks at the International Women’s Day Celebrations
Participants listening to presentations during the during the International Women’s Day Celebrations on at KUCC Interaction Hall on 8th March 2021.
(Left to right) - Dr. Regina Mwatha, KU-WEE Hub, Project Leader, Prof. Caroline Thoruwa, Director, ACTIL, Prof. Judith Waudo, Director, CGEE, Prof. Grace Bunyi, Registrar, Corporate Affairs
(Back)- Dr. Mildred Nawiri, Senior Lecturer, Department of Chemistry, Miss. Martha Nyambane, Vice Chairperson, KUSA at the International Women’s Day Celebrations
Dr. Regina Mwatha, KU-WEE Hub, Project Leader, Prof. Caroline Thoruwa, Director, ACTIL, Prof. Judith Waudo, Director, CGEE, Prof. Grace Bunyi, Registrar, Corporate Affairs, with some of the attendees during the International Women’s Day Celebrations
