Are women their own enemies?

Msambweni Sub-county Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson, Zeituni Bakari Semayote addressing participants during the International Women’s Day at Nyumba Mbovu in Kinondo Ward, Msambweni Sub-county

Disunity in the women leadership in Kwale played out today during celebrations to mark the world International Women’s. Day. While the event is meant to bring women together, in Kwale two factions of Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organization held separate meetings. One group led by Ms Zeituni Bakari held its meeting at Nyumba Mbovu in Kinondo Ward at a ceremony which was attended by the area Member of Parliament Suleiman Dori and a host of Members of County Assembly led by the host Juma Maone. Another group which is believed to be enjoying the support of Kwale County Women Representative Zainab Chidzuga held its meeting in Kwale town-a move Msambweni MP Suleiman Dori termed as divisive.

The women organization’s apparent crack contradicted this year’s theme “Make it Happen”- a slogan which was seen by many as a way of steering women leadership to greater heights.

Division among womenfolk in Kenya and Kwale in particular has been cited as the major reason women have failed to win elective positions over the years. Out of the twenty electoral wards in Kwale County, there is no single elected woman. Apart from Ms Chidzuga, the only other woman who has been elected to parliament was Ms Marere wa Mwachai nearly two decades ago. The ten women in the county assembly are beneficiaries of the affirmative action courtesy of the new constitution.