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Disability
is not Inability |
Disabled Women and Maendeleo ya wanawake elections.
22 November 2006
The recent Maendeleo Ya wanawake elections had one conspicuos
issue about them they were violent by women statndards. There
was too much confrontations that it cannot be said they were free
and fair if you know what Kenya is. The environment made the elections
not accessible to the disabled. So i wonder how many factions
had a Disabled representative nominated and if so what was the
cost. various media reprots showed confrontations that only the
Police could sort out. Chaos and name calling not related to women.
The
voice of disability seems to be getting too low in the years The
particiaption of the Disabled women in mainstream issues like
the Maendeleo Elections would have been effective tool to enable
better lobbiing next years for perks within the new Government.
Disabled people get reserved places in quite a number of forums
when there is reason. but in cases where the physically strong
win they are unablke to access positions. the Constitutional reveiw
has given the disabled community quite alot of latitude due to
reason in selecting delegates brought up by the nature of the
debate. But outside these in areas like political parties and
umbrella organisations like MYWO it has been difficult.
Who will champion the disability agenda?
If we do not work out a strategy for getting into those positions
of power who will champion our agenda? who will ensure our disabled
children do not remain the kumbafus of this country even with
the vision 2030. Who will ensure there is money to take them to
school, provide medicine and access to hospital services. Who
will ensure this? without representation in various organs of
power we have no hope of pushing our agenda. we thank the media
for their campign to create more awareness on disability... but
what is the solution?
| The Narc Government though has made great strides
in disability sensitive issues failed fo9r the first time
to bring up the an issue that was there at least in the Kanu
era. A nominated Member of Parliament who is disabled. Josephine
Sinyo we had hoped with her legal training would given an
opportunity be nominated into Parliament. |
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Josephine Sinyo
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The Kibaki Government of National Unity as large as it is has
not seen the need of nominating a disabled person into the various
opportunties that are available.
As women take positions for the 2007 Elections, we see in the
media they there are plans to ensure that more women are elected
into parliament. The agenda is so strong that they are mobilising
resources to put a joint battle both in the ODM Kenya and in Narc
Kenya. I am yet to see disabled women participating in these or
winning positions in either of these.
New strategies
one of the main issues bedevilking disability is the lack of
leadership. we must look at the various disability organisations
and see where are the potential leaders who can take the baton
to the next policy level. we must not only complain of being sidelined
but we do not work to be fit for the responsibiliteis required
of the hihger calling.
| What is the status of various breeding ground
for disabled leaders? the community organisations and institutions?
we see this in the general public the civil society and government
institutions are the breeding ground for leaders moving into
national platform. so my call is to every disabled person
in their respective areas of responsibility to raise up to
the occassion and be counted. |
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Disabled women leaders People like Salome Kimata, Josephine Kalunda,
and Josephine Sinyo should have positions in the various levels
of MYWO. We must put the necessary effort to ensure we are fit
to represent our community in pressing forward the issues at hand.
Disabilitykenya.
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