Let's empower women even more to make society better

Nominated Senator Catherine Muyeka Mumma. [File, Standard] History can attest that in every revolutionary movement, women have continued to play a pivotal role albeit at a much heavier cost than men. From the French Revolution to the Arab spring, women have showed that their voice and input is necessary for change. The ongoing agitations in Kenya are not any different. From the onset of the #RejectFinanceBill protests, young women have taken the frontline with admirable show of heroism and courage to demand for a better Kenya. The rise of the Gen Z movement in Kenya can rightly be attributed to the action of one young lady, Mercy Tarus, in Eldoret, who stepped up to demand for a little respect, empathy and justice from politicians who were acting in their usual callous ways in addressing their concerns. The frustration and discontent cuts across. That one act, birthed a movement that that has morphed into a resilient, emboldened and enlightened team guided by strategies and sacrifice that are unprecedented. All this is happening but at a price. The use of violence, harassment as an old age tactic for intimidation was evident. One of the photos that trended in the heat of the protest was of an officer inappropriately touching a lady protester while pushing her into a police truck. This incident was not isolated. Women were seen as the easier target and were indiscriminately arrested and held incommunicado, in what was designed to discourage and keep them off the streets. All isn't gloom though. With the momentum building, more women stepped up to the plate to make their contribution in the new wake. While others took to the frontlines, even more offered themselves to offer logistical support and gave the movement the spark necessary for its continuity. But it was the image of Shakira Wafula, a young woman who stood up to an officer unafraid and summed up for him and the world the essence of the protest that endures to date. It was the mothers who took in their injured children and nursed them. It was the young woman who mobilised funding to ensure all those injured had access to prompt medical care. It was the lawyers who stuck out for the arrested and offered pro bono service and camped at police stations to ensure justice for all victims. It is the mothers who, sadly, have lost their children to the call. Efforts to empower the girl-child have borne fruit. We are witnessing an era where more women are stepping out on the streets in all their femininity and refusing to live by the age-old bias of being the weaker gender. As a society, even as we celebrate them, we need to ensure that this rebirth is sustained. We must have legislation that fully support women in activism and protects them from all forms of harassment. We must empower our young women even more to add their voice in the running of a just society that upholds equity. The narrative of revolutions have changed. Our women are not just the heart of it but the tool that society can use to amplify the call for a better and equitable society for all. The women today are no longer footnotes in the history journals but of headlines of leadership and change. -The writer is a nominated senator

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