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Contacts   +254 726 603 528

+254 041 231 8854

+254 725 32 86 24

info@shirikishopartykenya

Shirikisho Party of Kenya, P.O. Box 84648-GPO 80100 Mombasa Office, Githere Plaza, first floor Haile-Selassie Avenue.

Women

The problem.
Like youth women are victims of the legacy of political patronage. Again like youth they are the majority voters but they are an insignificant minority in parliament. They have become voiceless. Under the community management roles, political parties and national governance institutions they are seen as objects rather than the very subjects of decisions made and are therefore relegated to the role of accepting decisions taken by others (men) while they (women) contribute the most in actual productive work. Thus, in spite of constituting over half of the population, they are denied participation in decision making organs. This does not only hurt women but also hurt the whole development process as it denies the country the critical contribution from our women folk. Apart from being sidelined from the decision making process, women also suffer cultural discrimination in the rights to inherit and own property.

In our country, women suffer harsher conditions of lives than men. They are denied equal opportunities in acquiring education and employment as well as equal pay for equal work. The labour conditions are not responsive to the. For instance promotion and  provision of maternity leave and maternal care in place of work. Similarly they often experience sexual harassment and are pressured into non-consented sex before they can receive jobs and promotions they deserve.

Under the reproductive role, they carry pregnancy and bear children with little support from the state. Some of the children they carry and bear are as a result of forced sex (rape). Childcare from infancy to school going age of such children gets little or no support at all from the state. Women like youth are therefore tools at the disposal of a special political, economic and social class serving their interests.

It is time for Kenya as a nation and for Kenyans as a people to fully appreciate the importance of including women in all sectors of life and all levels of society. Women rights are human rights. Every individual bring unique experiences, qualities and qualifications. Women have crucial roles and responsibilities. Shirikisho believes in a society that is integrated as a nation where women participation is a pre condition for success. This is possible in both political and economic spheres by adopting a deliberate action oriented policy such as affirmative action.

Policy Vision.
Shirikisho envisions a nation where women are included in the decision making process and are given opportunities in education and employment, a nation that recognizes the greater burden women carry in society therefore guarantying government support to them, for instance, entrenching maternity and maternal care as well as paternity leave in the employment law, a nation that has discarded cultural believes that deny women equal opportunities in inheritance and property ownership.

5.Society for international Development report 2006 indicate that women are 51% of Kenya population.

Action.
Shirikisho shall ensure real and meaningful democracy which all citizens have a right to participate in their government, not just at state level but right down to the smallest nucleus of the state, which is the family. In democracy, the participation of women at all level of decision making in all spheres of society is crucial for its development and the realization of women’s rights. There  can be no true and substantive democracy without equal participation of women.

Shirikisho will:

1. Ensure that there is an affirmative action to correct the historical imbalances between women and men in all the areas of socio-political and economic sectors of our society.

2. Take measures and put in place mechanisms both legal and political to ensure that women participate in leadership of political parties and organizations.

3. Provide free of charge maternal, child health and family planning services to those who deserve.

4. Improve the relevant legislation that protects women against rape and other forms of sexual harassment.

5. Introduce a feeding programmer to all deserving infants.

6. Emphasize and invest in the girl child education

7. Give women opportunities in inheritance and property ownership.