WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

WE HAVE NOT YET APPRECIATED WOMEN
Recently while attending a Peace Journalism lecture, the tutor asked a fundamental question that apparently most of my classmates including me are yet to find an answer. ”can a woman be raped within marriage?” He asked. This forms my basis on the issues to be looked into as we celebrate the International Women’s Day, today.
However, there is little to celebrate because we have not done enough to elevate women to viable positions in country. For a long time our treatment of women has been based on old barbaric traditions that have since been overtaken by time and events. I must admit albeit reluctantly, that the struggles and gains made by women in our country have gone unnoticed or ignored. Our perceptions on women are simply corrupt and unfounded, in the end, we are blinded to an extend that our parliament consist of only 67 out of 349 members translating to a mere 19%.Caro Ndeti of Embu county is being fought by men from all directions because she is about to be sworn in as the first woman governor in Kenya.
We do not actually have a valid reason why we do not trust women in leadership despite being disapproved time and again. Case in point; Professor Olive Mugenda is almost single-handedly steering Kenyatta University to academic and development prosperity, Professor Wangari Maathai left a legacy in the world that has no match when it comes to environmental advocacy , Cecilia Mwangi has a big heart, she is fighting the jiggers menace in our country, Mama Cecilia Muga (digital granny),65, from Migori county can ride a motorcycle, a car and operate a computer at ease. She can can type 20 words per minute. For her endeavors, Bidco Oil Rifinery Company in partnership with Jordan foundation has appointed her an ICT ambassador to empower women in Migori and most parts of western Kenya.(The standard on Saturday 8th March 2014,page 24-eve woman).I do not need to say anything about Lupita Nyong’o, just read the newspaper headlines, even tomorrows’. There are many great feats that women have scaled, including your mum (you).
To be so cruel are the statistics on women in our country. Women form 52% of the total population of our country (census 2009).Only 1% of the total land in Kenya is owned by women although a significant rise is expected with the advent of the new constitution. While agriculture forms the backbone of our economy, it’s unfortunate that 70% of labor in this sector is provided by women (The Daily nation on Saturday 8th march 2014 page 3.)We have refused to understand that countries with more gender equality have a better economic growth. Even for existence of peace cannot be dreamt of without involving women in making key decisions, indeed, US secretary of state John Kerry agrees that women bear the greatest burden of war but little or no voice in peace fostering processes. Interestingly, these burdens on women are sometimes inflicted by men with the most saddening case highlighted by the Kenyan media last year on 18 girls as young as eleven years impregnated within one year in Chepkurkur Primary school in Mt Elgon,Bungoma county.That expose , I bet was cruel for any mother to bear.
We can therefore overturn this fate as a country by first changing our minds, then laws. Women can do as much as men can, even better. How about St Brigids Girls - Kiminini in Trans Nzoia county beating all schools in the country to the top in KCSE 2013 Religious Education? So, let us all mark this year’s international women day with actions, not gender factions. Brigham Young said that; ‘You educate a man; you educate a man. You educate a woman; you educate a generation.’

By Korir Kennedy

EDUCATION

MY ADVICE TO THE GOVERNMENT ON THE LAPTOP PROJECT
Now that we are almost certain standard one pupils are finally going to receive the much hyped laptops, there are serious issues to look at before the project is formerly implemented.
First, do not issue laptops to children with no classrooms to learn from, desks, teachers or even food. The kids in Turkana and Marsabit and other arid regions will not smile on that blinking screen with an empty stomach, neither will they feel secure (they have never had security anyway) on temporary classrooms with ragged iron sheets. They will fail to understand why the government of the day has always inverted its priorities totally disregarding their most basic of needs.
Secondly, ensure there is constant power supply in these rural schools. Actually, this should be complete by now .Provide alternative sources of energy to those that fall outside the grid .Ensure all the modalities are properly put in place to assure the general safety of the kids and teachers regarding handling of electricity and laptops. This will in turn give birth to a smooth implementation of the project harmoniously across the country. We want to avoid a situation where the project will first focus on urban areas leaving the rural areas to continue languishing in information darkness.
Lastly, the government must put on proper infrastructure for continuous repair of laptops and projectors. Laptops are fragile and prone to defects especially when they are used by children. If  this is not done, the project might stall in the first term of implementation. Concerning the memory of the laptops, 320 GB  for standard one kids is too much and unnecessary, one wonders what bulk of data processing will be taking place in class one beyond simple arithmetic’s and typing short word documents? At least 40 GB would have allowed for purchase of more laptops or even train more teachers. Although the all project is a collective responsibility, a lot depends on the seriousness with which the government handles it lest it becomes counterproductive.

HOMOSEXUALITY

WHY MUSEVENI HIT THE BULLS’ EYE ON GAYS AND LESBIANS.
Tired of unending debate and pressure from the western powers, President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni woke up  with a solution to the problem-signing the anti-gay bill into law.
The tough talking former army general who has ruled Uganda for more than two decades albeit toppling Dr Milton Obote did not mince his words when he called a rare press conference attended by members of the forth estate , government officials and even the scientists! Under the watchful eyes of the international press, he appended his signature on the bill that seeks to illegalize homosexuality sending a chilling message to America and other sympathizers of the vice.
The message here was crystal clear that Uganda and Africa at large has no room for homosexuals and other related behaviors. The Ugandan president reminded the Obama administration that his country cannot be intimidated to embrace a culture that his people have never lived with. In fact he was brave enough to tell them that he didn’t mind losing foreign donations if it meant protecting Africanism. Methinks Museveni made the right move and his inferences are quite reasonable and sound.
First, it must be known that no human being was born gay or lesbian, at least for now. The assertion that people can be born with the vice is a daylight lie, unproven, misleading and uncalled for. In fact, it’s a red herring meant to distort the reality and avoid constructive debate on the issue. Currently there is no scientific proof of existence of genes that define same sex orientation. The closest the American doctors have come to discover is that there is a possibility of such gene existing in insects. Therefore the debate should not go further as the best it can happen here is a clueless discussion.
Secondly, Museveni reminded us on the adverse effects this practice can have on the society. We were all born and brought up in societies that had high cultural and moral standards. It is natural for boys to date girls and woman and man to be pronounced husband and wife. It clearly begs a question, who on this earth has the power to change this life routine? Are they justified to do so? Well, somebody argued that you can remove a man from a village but not vice versa. So the best we can do is to stem out barbaric cultural practices that hinder human development. America might be right on its democratic agenda but there is a line they should dare not to cross. It’s a different country that does not have closely knit society unlike Africa where things are done collectively, children look up to the older members of society for advice and direction, majority of the populated are less educated and values and norms are adhered to at all times.
Another issue that must not be given a raw deal as far as homosexuality is concerned is the dangers of contracting STI’s. Doctors have continuously warned that oral sex can easily spread STI’s , Hepatitis B and even HIV and AIDS. This will consequently complicate the current efforts that are devoted to fighting the disease menace in the region. We should all keep in mind that the tropical Sahara- home for killer diseases like malaria ,typhoid and cholera- are already a burden to fight and therefore efforts should be concentrated towards eradicating them, not creating others even if unconsciously. Uganda is one of the most vulnerable in the region and her actions should not be misunderstood however cruel they may appear.
Lastly, having understood the circumstances under which homosexuality exists and spreads, we need to critically analyze the whole thing and look outside the picture. What value does it add to the society or the country at large? People talk about change. Yes, change is inevitable in the hands of the current information age. Technology has revolutionized, roads have gone supper, screens have become digital, we are doing away with the analogue thing and can you believe that our standard one pupils will be smiling all day in class with laptops on their laps.320gb computers for standard one kids!.All these are happening right now because we know in the first place what we are changing and the obvious benefits that come along. The same cannot be said of same sex marriages or such relationships, its retrogressive and adds no important value to what we want to be like in future, it’s not that dream society we would like to have in future. A lot of holes can also be poked on how in the first place people arrived at it. For instance, why is it only common in urban centres and among a learned class? Why would one walk thousands of miles across Marsabit, West Pokot and Turkana counties without bumping into a group of people demanding ‘gay’ rights?
So as much as Mr Museveni might have bitten the finger that feeds him, its worth because somebody had to make a bold move and apply brakes. After all he publicly declared that Uganda is rich and brushing shoulders with the big brother is not a big deal. The new law that can now confine a person guilty of the offence behind bars for up to 14 years is expected to set precedence among other African states.  Meanwhile America must go slow on Africans and give us time to deliberate on the issue.

By Kennedy C korir

25/02/2014