"Someone told me the other day that Kenyan men do not see Kenyan women as fully human. It's a strong statement, but sadly it's often true."
"What's going to change this situation?"
- Katy Migiro, Thomson Reuters Correspondent
Every week, Thomson Reuters Foundation correspondents offer distilled insight on pressing issues. Two-Minute Talking Points bring you concise commentary from the front lines of humanitarian crises, climate change, corruption and human rights.
Someone told me the other day that Kenyan men do not see Kenyan women as fully human. It's a strong statement, but sadly it's often true.
Can you imagine walking maybe 10 kilometres to fetch firewood, another 10 to go and get water, finding food and then cooking it in a smoky little hut that makes your eyes tear and water.
After all that, it is your job to serve the men and the boys and you only get to eat if there are leftovers, even if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Traditionally, that’s seen as a good African woman.
What can be done to change this situation?
Changing mindsets can take generations. What I’d like to see is more women in power, in parliament, acting as role models for young girls, showing then that they are human, they do have value and that they can speak up for their rights.
That’s why Kenya’s elections coming up in March are so important.
For the first time, Kenyan women are going to benefit from affirmative action.
15 percent of seats in parliament have been reserved for women representatives. And maybe another 5 to 10 percent of elected MPs will be female.
With these numbers, I hope that women will finally get the chance to pass legislation that will benefit them.
After all, they are the majority of the population.
For years, women have been lobbying without success for laws to protect them against domestic violence and allow them to inherit land. If women could start to enjoy some of these basic rights, we might start to see women being treated as fully human. And that would be good not just for women but for the whole of Kenya.
Filming: Claudine Boeglin
Editing: Shanshan Chen
Design: Ye Li
