Communiqué from the Kisumu Women Leadership Conference

Participants pose for a group photo during the workshop

Communiqué from the Kisumu Women Leadership Conference

Preamble

Women leaders together with representatives from Religious Institutions, the Luo council of elders, youth leadership, Kisumu County Political Parties representatives and Civil Society organizations Supporting Women Leadership have met here at Jumuia Hotel, Kisumu from the 4^th to 5^th February 2016 during the Kisumu County Women Leadership Conference organized by NCCK under the theme “ KAUNTI BORA JUKUMU LETU”. Drawing reflections from the book of Mathew 5: 13-16: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” All leaders and more so women are the salt and the light of the society. Just as salt is a preservative and is used to bring taste in food, so is a woman in the society. Having the fear of God as a leader makes a woman to have wisdom.

This Conference celebrates the achievements made so far in Kisumu County by women in political leadership. With appreciation that the Constitution of Kenya 2010 provides that in all elective and appointive bodies, no more than two thirds of the members are to be of the same gender. It is however unfortunate that five years later, both political leaders and the judiciary are still dithering, working hard to avoid putting in place the necessary policies to actualize this law. This is not only a gross injustice but also a breach of the constitution by the leaders, especially because their failure continues to hinder opportunities for women participation in political leadership.

2. Commitment to Engage in Political Leadership.

The Kisumu County Women Leadership Conference has resolved that women in this county will not sit back and watch things happen while whining that the gender rule is not being implemented. Instead, they will come out strongly to be involved in the political leadership of Kisumu County. As a voice of the Women in Kisumu County we will therefore push for inclusive leadership by endeavoring to counter the endemic obstacles that hinder their paths. These include social-economic factors such as Poverty; Cultural norms and Practices that demean women; and Lack of equal opportunities among other issues in political parties. We have also made some commitments that we would like to share with the residents of Kisumu and the Nation at large:

a) Women Commitment to Engage

We the women of Kisumu County commit to do all we can so as to fully participate in the political leadership of our county. Towards this, we will:

Mobilize women to apply for IDs and voters card.
Educate one another so as to build our capacities as leaders and mentor younger women through our established structures and networks.
Identify and approach partners to support qualified women aspirants.
Support other viable women when they stand for elective positions or lobby for appointive and nominative positions.
Portray appropriate character that is beyond reproach to attract support from the electorate and also leadership abilities early enough to become competitive in political seats.
Identify and approach mentors and coaches to equip aspiring candidates with skills of political engagement.
We also urge the media to portray women leadership positively not just highlighting the negatives
Help fellow women to be empowered economically by registering companies that would help them do businesses with the government through the tenders being offered.

b) Religious Leaders Commitment to Support Women Engagement.

We the Women Religious Leaders of Kisumu County commit to render full support to the participation of women in political leadership. We also advise the current women leaders and the future leaders to be the true salt and light of the society. We also ask Women in Kisumu County to walk in the in the fear of God so that He may give us wisdom to run our families and the society. All women aspirants to come and partner with the church to get our electoral support and prayers as well

c) Councils of Elders’ Commitment to Support Women Engagement

We the Luo Councils of Elders Commit to support women participation in political leadership by:

Encouraging men to allow their wives, daughters, sisters to engage in political leadership

Giving advice to women vying for political leadership positions in the county.
Collaborate with other stakeholders in ensuring election of political leaders is based on qualities and not gender.
Advise women to train their families on HIV/AIDs and its realities

d) Youth Commitment to Support Women Engagement

We the youth of Kisumu County commit to support women engagement in political leadership. We will do the following in support in this among other things:

Will advocate and support leadership women in Kisumu
Refuse to be used by male or female politicians to abuse or visit violence on female candidates or their supporters
Find platforms to empower youths financially through existing/available funding opportunities and programs.
Mobilize all Youths in the County to Apply for Identity Cards and Register as voters.
Vote for female candidates while at the same time challenging women to raise the standards of their leadership
Involve the young female youths so that they can be mentored too into political leadership

e) Political Parties’ Commitment to Support Women Engagement

We the political parties operating in Kisumu County will support women participation in political leadership by:

Mobilizing women to advocate for inclusion in the party nomination lists
Undertaking nominations at county and sub-county levels so as to give opportunities to as many people as possible
Enforcing party discipline to prevent cases of violence and intimidation of female candidates
We urge women to be actively involved in party issues to increase their chances for election and party nomination
Incorporated party structures and policies that are friendly and supports women leadership

g) Civil Society Organizations commitment

The CSOs of Kisumu County commit to:

Establish platforms for women qualities to be enhanced so that they are competitive in taking leadership positions

The conference supports the idea of having a women movement through which women will be able to lobby for support among the women and reach out to partners to support women leadership.

Working to see that the 2/3 gender rule is implemented and if not then we will follow the legal system to see that nothing hinders this.

Signed on this 5^th day of February 2016 at Jumuia Hotel, Kisumu

Rev. Beatrice Oloo; NCCK Secretary, Kisumu County Coordinating Committee.