Give me a few weeks and Maendeleo will get her groove back, says Muiu

Q. Who is Rahab Mwikali Muiu?

A. I am a wife, mother and a grandmother. I am a former civil servant who has worked extensively with women at the grassroots. I joined Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) in 1996 and have served as National Vice chair for six years and immediate past chair of the organisation in what was formerly Eastern province. I am a member of the United Nations Development Programme Team of Eminent Persons and a member of the Kamba Council of elders.

Q. What is your vision for Maendeleo ya Wanawake Organisation?

I want to improve the socio economic status of women at the grassroots and will work hard to re-brand MYWO. My vision for the first 100 days is to conduct training programmes on the UWEZO fund, and train women on public procurement rules that allow for 30 per cent of all Government contracts be given to youth, women and persons with disabilities. I would also like MYWO to play an important role in security by sensitising communities on the Nyumba Kumi initiative.

\In the long term (Five year plan), I will be focusing on women’s economic empowerment, maternal, child health and family planning, job creation and employment of women, water, sanitaton and environment as well as mentoring young girls. I want to see more women sit on committees at the Ward, County and Sub County levels.

Q.The recent elections that saw former chair Rukia Subbow step down at the last minute were marred by allegations of political interference and a general lack of transparency. What do you make of these allegations and how do you plan to address these perceptions?

A.There were flaws in the process but all these will be addressed. Even though the High Court ruling, ordering elections to be held, was delivered in March it wasn’t until June 9 that an Electoral Board was set up. We had been planning for elections with officers still in office and this posed challenges because there was too much control from the status quo. The board had just about 20 days to conduct the polls.

Many complaints have been raised and we will soon be meeting the elections board to iron out issues of representation at all levels across the country. I want to end the culture of operating from the boardroom. The women we serve are out at the grassroots and we want to get feedback from them. This is the approach we will be taking.

Q.There has been a feeling that MYWO has for long been used as a tool for political patronage thus deviating from its initial mandate. The perception has been that those ascending to leadership of the organisation are usually politically well connected individuals. Getting a position within the ranks of the organisation has also been viewed as a stepping stone to launching one’s political career. Do you share these views?

A. I have been in MYWO since1996 and believe I have risen through the ranks on merit. I have worked with women at the grassroots for long and this has given me an advantage. While it’s true that some women have launched their political careers from MYWO, it’s not a negative thing for those seeking political office because we are here to empower women politically, economically and socially.

We have had the likes of Cabinet Secretary Charity Ngilu, Senator Beth Mugo and former Marakwet East MP Linah Kilimo who trace their roots to the organisation and have done well politically.

Q. MYWO appears to have lost its lustre over the years, and has been beset by wrangles over elections, leadership and management of its properties. What will you do differently to steer it away from this path?

A. We must revive Maendeleo’s dream together as women of this country. Although the organisation’s presence may not have been felt in the past few years, it has been part of many discussions including up to the UN level. The outgoing chair has been instrumental in discussions around conflict resolution and peace building. My dream is to someday have every girl above 18 years become a MYWO member. I am hoping to register at least one million members in the next one year and look forward to having a MYWO office in each of the 47 counties in the next three months.

Its true there has been wastage, but I want to stop that. We want to initiate discussions on how we can develop assets like plots the organisation owns in different parts of the country because this has caused some grumbling. Members can also expect to have Annual General Meetings. Part of my vision is to ensure with every membership card bought, part of the money is ploughed back into the villages.

Q. MYWO has, in some quarters, been perceived as having benefited from the agenda of other women’s organisations and has lost its voice on critical matters. How do you intend to work with other women bodies?

A. We need to appreciate that MYWO has been around for 62 years and is the mother organisation of the Women’s Movement. MYWO has done a lot for women of this country outside politics. Its a huge organisation with its own structures and wouldn’t want to be swallowed by other organisations but rather partner with them in pushing the women’s agenda.

Q.The Supreme Court’s ruling that progressive realisation of the one third gender rule be fully realised by August 2015 was meant to increase women’s representation in politics. What is MYWO’s plan in coming up with mechanisms that can be used to achieve this?

A. We are looking at partnering with other women’s organisations on this to evaluate how far we are. We have organisations like Fida-Kenya, the National Women’s Steering Committee, and women leaders in Parliament and the Senate. We want to hear the agenda of women leaders on this matter and find a way forward.