Women's Equality Day: It has taken us decades to get here

The right to vote belongs to all citizens, but this wasn't always the case as most countries had denied this cornerstone of democracy to half their population; women.

In 1920, the 19th amendment of the US constitution was ratified to give women the right to vote, which meant women voices being heard at the ballot box after decades of agitating and pushing by women.

The Women's Equality Day celebrated every August 26, commemorates the passage of women's suffrage in the US and serves a reminder of the violence and discrimination women went through to advance the women's movement while calling to attention women's continuing efforts towards full equality.

In Kenya, we stand on the shoulders of Muthoni Nyanjiru who fought alongside men in the Mau Mau revolution and Grace Onyango, the first female mayor and Member of Parliament in post-independence Kenya.

We walk along the footsteps of Phoebe Asiyo, Dr Julia Ojiambo, Prof Wangari Maathai, Martha Karua and Charity Ngilu, among others. These women dared to dream that they could pave the way for inclusion of women in decision making spheres without fear.

On their backs, we have seen the Kenyan government ratifying major international treaties that protect youth and women's political participation. It has affirmed further its commitment to the Constitution that establishes state obligations to advance these special-interest groups' political participation.

Specific affirmative-action mechanisms that "not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies should be of the same gender" have been put in place, all in the spirit of ensuring that women, including young women, are able to contribute to make decisions that affect them in their day to day lives.

Over the years Kenya, has noted the progress of women participation in the electoral process where there has been increased number of women as voters, aspirants, owners of registered political parties and campaigners for their candidates.

In 2013 and 2017, county assemblies were the most popular entry point for women into politics, with 73 per cent of the women in the 2017 primaries vying for county assembly seats.

In 2017 we noted an increase of number of women vying for elective positions at national and county levels. In 2017, women held 172 of the 1,883 elected seats in Kenya, up from 145 after the 2013 elections.

Despite the existence of affirmative action, women do not have a level playing field unlike their male counterparts, thus widening the gap of opportunities for women. This has further been entrenched by narratives such as women need to vie for seats just like men as opposed to being nominated, social cultural norms and patriarchal status of the country.

Women who are brave enough to take part in the electoral process face an array of challenges, including discrimination, violence, low media coverage, lack of resources required for registration and subsequently campaigns, personal attacks, bribery, lack of party backing and negotiated democracy.

Women who have been elected in the just concluded general election include seven governors, eight deputy governors, three senators and 29 members of parliament. Overall, this is an improvement from the 2017 elections. Affirmative action has definitely contributed to this huge milestone and paved the way for more women to gain the courage to vie for elective seats.

It is about time the gains made in women participation and contribution in leadership and decision making translate to equality in other spheres such as owning of property, increased resources for women, equal wage, job opportunities, appointive positions, protection of women and girls, education opportunities, reproductive health choices, reduction of sexual gender-based violence and an end of retrogressive practices that continually hold women and girls back from being healthy and thriving.

To attain this, the government needs a firm foundation for inclusion in government by intentionally and persistently implementing the already existing laws which promote equality and protection for both men and women. This includes enforcement of court rulings that promote equality.

Mentorship and capacity building for women leaders and upcoming women leaders is needed as this allows for ample time for women to prepare within the four-year period and do resource mobilisation for their campaigns and other logistical needs.

Ensure continuous support and documentation of the journey of women to showcase their leadership capabilities, thus demystify the narrative entrenched in our society that women are not leaders.

Attaining equality will need more than just a robust legal framework. We need political goodwill from the government of the day as well as collaboration from both state and non-state actors.

Otherwise, still on a high and celebrating, CREAW takes this opportunity to congratulate all the women for voting and electing women.

To all the women in elective positions, we are clapping and cheering you as you drive the women agenda in the various spaces you occupy. Looking forward to enjoying, more rights.