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Welcome to CWID's second Edition of the news letter
Inside this issue:
Women leaders from all walks Kenya braved the chilli Nairobi morning to get the speeches from the experts at the bomas of Kenya. The occasion which was officially opened by the justice and constitutional Minister was brought together thousands of women who were eager to know the gains that women will acquire when the constitution passes. As we were being driven in green city buses from the Hotel to Bomas of Kenya, songs of praises for the proposed constitution, one would be forgiven to think that another general election is around. on our arrival at Bomas Grace Oloo my friend and a participant asked me if I think all the women leaders who were happily singing in the bus about the constitution have read and understood it? The biggest concern of the women was how the grass woman who is vulnerable and illiterate will read and understand the katiba that every leader would like every Kenyan to read and understand. Ruth Maloy from Rift valley says, I have never seen any of our leaders telling the grassroots leaders to read for those who cant read despite that the katiba also is not founded in the local language. Asked which clause she would like to understand well Mariamu from Malindi says Article 26clause1,2,3,4 of chapter four . First I don’t understand all this fuss about the abortion , why is it that it is only men who are advocating for it. My worries were abated when Hon. Martha Karua cleared the air by reminding the participants that when Kenya got independent in 1963 the population was 9million , and about 47years down the line we are about 40+ that shows how women are responsible about their reproductive health.
Women from Coast Province follow proceedings at the launching of Katiba Sasa at Bomas of Kenya. Women’s gains in the Kenya’s Proposed Constitution: As the Kenyans gears up for referendum on the 2010 proposed constitution, GEM and AWC collaboratively compiled this document to give Kenyan women an opportunity to understand the issues that directly affect them in the proposed constitution
Kenyans at a Civic Education Forum on the Proposed Constitution in Kisauni. Mombasa.
The document aims at making the contents of the draft accessible to as many women as possible by simplifying the language and explaining the implications of the provision that directly address gender equality. Overall, the audit reveals that by far this is a better document in terms of women rights than the current constitution But the concern is how can this document reach the grassroot woman?
People with disability and Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission: Truth Justice and Reconciliation Commission is a transitional justice mechanism established in situations where a country is emerging from a period of grave human rights atrocities and impunity and seeking to transit into a human rights state. It is geared to enable a state to commence the interrogation of systemic and massive human rights atrocities which if unchecked destroy a country’s ability to institute the fundamental elements of the rule of law necessary to the establishment and functioning of a democratic state. It allows a nation to acknowledge, confront and lay to rest those aspects of its past that are hindering it from moving on. This is a fairly new phenomenon, particularly in the emerging “new” democracies. Similar bodies have been set up in other countries including Argentina, Ghana, Liberia, Chile, Sierra Leone and South Africa.
A facilitator at the workshop of TJRC for PWD
CWID in collaboration with Tunaweza disable women group thus is facilitating a one day forums for its PLWD in coast to be inducted on Truth Justice and Reconciliation process where PLWD sanitized on the work of TJRC and reasons why their cases should be heard. The major concern is they feel that their concern is the representation of PLWD at the commission and most of the were not even aware of TJRC. The agenda is being supported by Action Aid Kenya.
PWD at a group work during the workshop of TJRC
Farewell of the Networks Advisor: May was a month of dimness for Coast Women In Development which hosts the secretariat of Pwani GBV network, the organization felt the gap that Hadley Muchella had to leave when his contract ended on 9th May 2010. The network also could not believe that no sooner had Mr Muchella started familiarizing with the environment in coast than his contract had to be condense. We Hope that pleads that were presented to Dr Karega the Chair Person of National Commission of Gender and Development by Pwani GBV network that Pwani similar to other regions in Kenya was also affected by Post election violence moreover Pwani has prevalence of Gender Based Violence. Consequently we need an advisor for GBV in coast. The network will use the skills they acquired from the trainings that was convened and facilitated by Mr Muchella during his tenure . Long Live Hadley.
Hadley listenening to the farewell speech from the Pwani GBV Network members.
The International Day of Action On Women’s Health: The International Day of Action on Women’s Health falls on 28th May, annually. The origins of this world health day curtail from a 1987 meeting of the Women’s Global Network for Reproductive Right (WGNRR), IN Costa Rica where the Latin American and Caribbean Women’s Health Network proposed the creation of a global day of action for women’s health.
Mwana hamisi Said from Shirikisho Women Group pays attention to a counselor during the HIV/AIDS test on the International Day for Action On Women's Health..
This year, the International Day of Action on Women’s Health, brought about a worldwide initiative to ensure that every woman on the planet gets what is rightfully hers – the right to live healthy and be the mistress of her destiny which was as well a crusade for Urgent Action on women’s health and basic rights, it conceded the theme, "Our Bodies, Our Lives, And Our Health: For the Right and Freedom to Choose”. This underlying principle CWID led Pwani GBV Network in collaborating with ICRH International Center For Republic Health on convenining a forum to sensitize the community around Kisauni on the importance of Knowing their HIV/AIDS status. Although Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey (KAIS) 2007 shows that coast province has the second highest HIV prevalence among urban residents by having 11.1% higher than the overall National percentage which is 7.1% ,out of 53 adults who were tested only 3were positive with men taking the lead by 2 and woman 1 this was different in the persons who were treated with STI where us 19 women treated with STI against 13 men who were treated with STI. . Ohe members also got opportunity to sensitize children who had attended the occasion on child sexual abuse. Kisauni Constituency which was the venue for the activity leads in gender based violence in Mombasa
Children take note to paralegal officer during the sensitization on child sexual abuse
Toxic maize in Kenya: On 10th May 2010 Agricultural officials estimate that at least 300,000 bags out of four million could be contaminated, following poor handling that resulted in a high moisture content in the grains. Consumption of such maize, they say, could lead to aflatoxicosis. Since 2004, at least 200 people have died across Kenya after eating aflatoxin-infected maize, according to health and agricultural officials. The government is now buying the toxic maize so that it can dispose it but how sure are we that the same toxic maize the government has bought will not get it`s way back to the Kenyan markets? Its symptoms include jaundice, fever, abdominal swelling, vomiting, swollen feet or hands and diarrhea. The condition can cause neurological impairment and diminutive growth , children who are our future generation will be the most affected The milk that was poured out to waste in Eldoret North, due to the mismanagement of KCC after the farmers were sensitized on how to breed the cows in a way that they can harvest more milk is yet to dry.
Participant at the Inter-cultural event drink sour milk in Makadara ground Mombasa
Who is to blame? Just two months ago Kenyans from some parts of the country were dying of hunger, in Eastern women were forcing their daughters into prostitution to get food for the family, the girls were being prostituted as shamelessly as at 20Kes. The government which cant feed its people and cant educate its people on how to properly manage there food should go home.
Grassroot women`s Economic Empowerment program Investing in grassroots women supports not only a woman, but sustains a community. Grassroots women are often neglected in development work as many organizations find it difficult to venture out to rural areas, despite the fact that these play a greater role of taking care of their families while their husbands are migrate to urban centers or busy drinking local brew. Since l started getting loan from CWID now my children can eat a balance diet, those who go to school can now have books and uniform , the money is not just for bussines but it has changed the life of my family members, says zawadi a mother of four children .
CWID believes that reaching out to grassroots women is one of the best investments, as well as being one of the most rewarding. CWID is proud to support the work of grassroots women.
Matano manne market where women sell their wares after receiving the loan .
Any comments and reactions are welcomed, kindly send an email to cwid@coastwomen.org |
