About
WINNING ARTICLE
FIDA KENYA ESSAY QUESTION IN THE STANDARD GENDER AGENDA PAGE OF 29 JULY 2009
GETTING GENDER TO THE AGENDA.
By Maximus Mutuku
Gender, the state of being male or female in humans has been a rather controversial and thorny issue over the years. Either sex has had its share of grueling lack of appreciation if we may say from their opposite gender. Time has thus come for the civilized world to appreciate each other and bring equity into each and every issue at hand as far as gender is concerned or rather get gender into the agenda. First of all Kenya lacks a firm legislation to ensure that neither gender is discriminated against when it comes to leadership, jobs or any other opportunity that arises. Parliament should thus come up with an Act of parliament that stipulates that there should be gender equality in all opportunities. This stringent law should be publicized and circulars distributed to all joints of the country to ensure that everyone knows well that he or she has a right and chance of pursuing any chance as long as it is within the scope of law. It has also been the stereotype in most communities that some issues can be better handled by men or women. Its up to the government to carry out public education in conjunction with all other stakeholders in nation building such as well wishers and NGO’s to ensure that people get to know that everyone is capable of anything just as good as his or her colleague of opposite gender if not better. This point should be emphasized to all citizens irrespective of their age, from primary to secondary school and even including universities and colleges not forgetting all adult education beneficiaries. There should also be an effort by successful personalities both male and female to come out to the public and speak of how possible it is to make it in areas that have always been deemed to be impossible. This would include lady pilots and engineers and men nurses and pediatricians. This will serve as a source of encouragement to those young aspirants who are on the verge of losing hope of ever making it in life. The country should also strive to make all opportunities available to everyone. If it is in education, training in all fields should be open to either ladies or men. The same should happen in job opportunities and leadership arenas. It is not new to hear people grumble over the fact that a post is being held by a lady or supposedly a man! These golden chances should be given to all deserving and qualified candidates. The country should also root out causes of gender inequality that have existed from time immemorial. These causes may bring up inequality either directly or indirectly for example, the country should enforce the laws which criminalize early marriages and female genital mutilation; these factors deny the girl child an opportunity of achieving her dreams and thus leaving out such chances to men who may even not deserve the chance. The same should be for laws which forbid child labour which in most cases affects young men. This will ensure that all young boys engage in activities which are beneficial to them. We should also form elite groups and associations which champion for the rights of either gender which will receive and deal with cases of discrimination in gender and seek for justice where necessary. These lobby groups should expand their networks all over the country and be legally empowered to take legal action against any offender of their cause of action. If all this is done I believe that we shall be walking the talk and make the nation a freer and better place to live in. This will encourage the spirit of brotherhood and enhance social cohesion.
The writer is an ECONOMICS AND STATISTICS STUDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NAIROBI.