This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
Kenya's Progress Towards Gender Parity ¶
With 13 years of experience in advocating for women's rights, Anne Ireri is optimistic about Kenya's progress towards gender parity. In an interview, she noted that the country has made significant gains in formulating laws and policies promoting gender equality.
However, Ireri emphasized that the challenge lies in implementation, particularly in ensuring that the two-thirds gender representation is adhered to and allocating more resources to enhance gender parity.
She attributed the society's lack of appreciation for gender equality as a major threat to these developments, leading to decisions that water down the strides made.
Key to Safeguarding Gains ¶
Ireri identified sustained engagement with political parties to ensure women's participation through elections and nomination as crucial. She also emphasized the need for the Executive to allocate adequate resources to gender programs and for the Judiciary to assert itself in safeguarding these gains.
She expressed confidence that Kenya is on the right path towards attaining gender parity, citing the increasing number of women leaders elected to political seats as evidence of progress.
Ireri also highlighted the importance of addressing barriers to women's political participation, including political violence and election financing.
Empowering Men and Boys ¶
Ireri emphasized that the fight for women's rights is not at the expense of men, but rather a gain for all. She advocated for including men in the quest for gender equality and considering the needs of boys, empowering them alongside girls.
She encouraged young women aspiring to take up leadership to believe in their dreams, have mentors, and be themselves, embracing their uniqueness.
Ireri also shared her personal story, revealing that she would have studied architecture or fashion design if she hadn't been involved in gender rights advocacy.
Challenges and Limitations ¶
Ireri acknowledged her limitations, including her obsession with order and meticulousness, which sometimes hinders her ability to meet deadlines.
She expressed gratitude for her support system, which enables her to balance her demanding schedules as a CEO and a doctorate student.
Ireri defined fulfillment as going to bed every night with the conviction that she applied herself wholly to her responsibilities and made use of her talents to serve others.
Published on September 30, 2019 by myNetwork.
