Women Urged To Battle With Men In A Leadership Position

Women in the Coast region have been challenged to venture into politics and take the leadership mantle.

Haki Africa Deputy Executive Director Salma Hemed said women should stop backing male politicians and fully support their own.

Speaking during a leadership awareness forum targeting women in Kilifi County on Wednesday, Ms Hemed said women should strategise and ensure they sail into leadership in the August, 9th, 2022 general elections.

According to Hemed, Women have failed in championing for their own political journey but instead backing their male counterparts.

The Gender and children’s rights activist reiterated that women in the Coast region should change and uplift their fellow women politically.

“Unless we change and work in unison as Coast women, we will not achieve our leadership goals,” Ms Hemed said.

She challenged Coastal women to change their perception on politics and leadership and support women as the 2022 clock ticks.

Hemed said Haki Africa together with other stakeholders in the Coast region will enhance civic education at grassroots level to ensure women are well equipped with relevant information as they pursue their political careers.

She said women in the country are capable of changing the country’s economy, democracy and ensure gender and societal issues are prioritised.

Her sentiments were backed by Kilifi woman activist Kibibi Ali.

Ali from Kilifi Mum’s, a community based organisation championing for women’s rights in Kilifi county said women in the county need adequate civic education to enable them clearly understand their rights and roles in the society as well.

She said Kilifi woman faces a myriad of challenges that need various interventions to be curtailed.

She however, cautioned women against propagating hatred among themselves.

“We should change and focus on political leadership and as well tackling gender related issues at grassroots level and not fight ourselves,” she disclosed.