Migori Woman Representative Fatuma Mohammed has encouraged positive competition in all sectors to strengthen the voices of women in the Kenyan workforce.
Ms Fatuma who spoke in a caucus at one of the hotels in Migori town that brought together various women groups in Migori County noted that the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KWOPA) aims to unite both women in and outside parliament to promote their welfare.
KWOPA also works to promote and protect democracy and advocate for women’s rights as well as inclusive political party governance.
The MP said that Kenyan women were facing enormous challenges ranging from Gender-Based Violence (GBV), teenage pregnancies, early marriages, Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) as well as fighting for a voice in leadership positions.
“We are not in competition with men for any leadership voices and spaces. What we are fighting for is gender equality and equal treatment and rights that our gender counterparts enjoy,” said Fatuma.
The legislator defied all the odds to be elected as an independent candidate in the 2022 general elections; making her the first Woman Representative MP to be elected in the Nyanza Region.
She encouraged men to be on the lead to uplift women to equalise society positively in order to contribute to the growth of society.
“Let men work with women and be willing to give them opportunities to showcase what women can do whether in political space or any other avenue. All we ask is a healthy and positive competition with men to show what we can be able to achieve,” said the legislature.
She, however, urged Migori parents to take care of their young ones this December holiday to help minimize new HIV infections and the mother to Child Transmissions that hinder the progress of women in society.
Migori County remains one of the top five counties in Kenya with a high HIV prevalence rate of 10.4 percent with heavy HIV burden left for women to bear.
Kegan Mwangi from KWOPA who accompanied Fatuma explained that the association aims to support women in the parliament in executing their mandate including legislation, oversight, and representation.
Mwangi affirmed that KWOPA will be in solidarity to promote the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence in the county to advocate for the rights of all women.
By Geoffrey Makokha
