Women in Kakamega County have been challenged to come out strongly without fear and fight for their constitutional rights.
Speaking during a women leaders meeting held at the Lumakanda Teachers Advisory Center (TAC) hall, the Chief Executive Officer of the ‘Jitegemee Community Empowerment Initiative’ Dr. Constance Ambasa regretted how women were being oppressed and discriminated against as they continue to suffer in silence.
She said every woman has a right to be educated and inherit land from her parents as well as being involved in budget making right from household level to the County and national government levels.
She said that despite forming more that 50 percent of the total population, less than one percent of women are wealthy.
She said beliefs, traditions, and customs have conferred rights of land inheritance to men, a reality that has continued to keep a majority of women within the poverty bracket.
“Kakamega County is largely patriarchal where most women are denied access to land, which serves as a tangible and valuable asset in securing any long term development loan. We have also seen girls being denied the right to education at the expense of boys, this is unacceptable violation of their rights,” said Dr. Ambasa.
She said Articles 27 and 40 of the Constitution of Kenya give women equality and freedom from discrimination as well as protection of right to property regretting how their rights have continued to be desecrated.
She said her organization is among leading lights on the road towards total economic emancipation and empowerment of women in the County and helping them unchain themselves from the vicious circle of patriarchy.
“We want to see the rural women participate in public participation from the grassroots to the national level and their contribution should be considered. We want to give them courage to come out strongly and ensure their voices are heard,” she said.