This archive report was first published on 20 June 2020.
On June 20, 2020, the impeachment of Governor Anne Waiguru by the Kirinyaga County Assembly sparked a gender debate, with Public Service and Gender CS Margaret Kobia suggesting that the governor was being targeted because she is a woman.
However, the debate quickly shifted from the issue at hand to spats amongst politicians and online forums, with many arguing that the gender card was being played to deflect from the real problem.
While it is true that gender imbalance is still a significant issue in Kenya, the campaign to promote equality has led to a situation where sexism is often read into situations where it may not be present.
Playing the gender card in this instance is an attempt to shift blame and responsibility to others, rather than addressing the real issue of corruption and misappropriation of public funds.
As one commentator noted, 'if indeed the governor was involved in corrupt dealings, her gender was the last thing on her mind while at it.' So why are we making it a gender issue now?
It is time to slow down and look at the facts, rather than making assumptions based on gender. Sometimes a situation, while involving a man and woman, will have nothing to do with gender. Issues are not always about the sex-divide.
By playing the gender card, we are not only shifting blame but also preventing women from competing at par with men. It is time to move beyond the victim mentality and focus on promoting equality and fairness in all aspects of life.
