Busia County Executive Committee Member for Lands and Urban Development Bernadette Muyomi has acknowledged the role her county has played in opening up space for women in leadership.
Speaking during an interview on Women at the forefront, Muyomi thanked Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong for the affirmative action that has met the two-thirds threshold.
“In my County Busia, the voice of women is heard. We have three women CECs and five chief officers. One of the Town management committees is headed by a woman. County Public Service Board was headed by a woman. We also have women in various boards,” she said.
Muyomi said instead of relying on well-wishers every time to purchase sanitary towels and books, the girl-child will be able to use the proceeds from fruit trees to sustain themselves as their mothers also fend for the family.
The CEC told women to start claiming their rights in society, adding that not even the mightiest army can stop an idea whose time has come.
Bernadette Muyomi admitted that women are still marginalized when it comes to land ownership. “They may own land yes but lack the opinion on how land is used or authority to use the land as a basic factor of production.”
She said men are still key players in pushing for women rights although some of the rights are sometimes ignored. “The judiciary has also helped in defending women when such rights are breached,” she said.
Regarding the forthcoming General Elections, Muyomi appealed to leaders to observe law and order saying that there is no monopoly in war. “The highest burden of war is women whose psychological impact can be life threatening after losing their dear husbands. My message to leaders is please stop using war as a tool to thrive. They should instead push for peaceful co-existence,” she said, adding that there is no formula on how war starts, thus the need for peace.
She said that activism is not about taking to the streets and carrying banners, adding that the international leadership forums she attended have helped her walk the talk that has helped empower women and the girl-child in the county.