It was a vivacious display of patriotism and unity as a Mombasa women’s movement unveiled a countywide peace campaign and sensitisation drive on government funds and procurement opportunities for women in Mombasa.
Draped in Kenyan flags and singing patriotic songs, women gathered at the Mombasa Women’s Association Hall yesterday to champion peace and economic empowerment at a time when the nation is grappling with various challenges.
The women leaders from the six Sub-counties: Kisauni, Nyali, Mvita, Likoni, Changamwe and Jomvu will be Peace Ambassadors and are expected to traverse the Port City, promoting unity, peace and cohesion among Kenyans. They will collaborate with leaders who will sign the peace accord.
“We want peace to prevail in Kenya. We want to renew our patriotism and restore Kenya’s image through peace,” said Ms. Amina Ridhwani, Chairperson of the Mama Kenya Movement.
The movement will sensitise women to the different government funds and procurement opportunities that are geared to empower them economically.
“The biggest challenge is that most women are unaware of these funds. Although the funds are being disbursed, there is a gap in coordination and communication,” Ms. Ridhwani said. She also noted that many women are unfamiliar with the Taifa Care programme administered by the Social Health Authority.
Women, she noted, are often excluded from participating in key government initiatives due to a lack of information and engagement, making them vulnerable to misinformation and propaganda.
“The Ambassadors from the Ward level will report back on education, health and development projects to ascertain the funding being disbursed. We will be able to know the number of women’s groups and their needs,” said Ms. Ridhwani.
More women will be empowered to get government tenders, noting that most youth are disillusioned by a lack of equality and lack of opportunities. “We call for urgent dialogue to resolve issues beleaguering the youth.”
Ms. Jane Adeya, Secretary General of the movement, urges the youth to embrace peace, not to destroy the country with anarchy. She advised parents to monitor their children’s behaviour and online activities and not to propagate hate speech on social media platforms.
On her part, Rukia Mwinyi encouraged protesting youth to heed the call for peace and not to be misused by politicians to cause chaos. Police were urged to restrain themselves from using live bullets when handling unarmed protestors.
Mary Ouma, a Youth Leader, said most youth in the Port City find themselves in drug and substance abuse because of idleness due to a lack of enough job opportunities to absorb thousands of graduates being churned out by universities and colleges yearly.
The youth, she noted, spend most of their time on social media, where they find people with shared experiences and also lack jobs.
“We want somebody who can listen to our feelings before you start telling us youth we are going into the wrong dimensions. Why don’t you look at those things that are leading us to those dimensions?” she decried, adding that youth want to be actively engaged in leadership.
By Sadik Hassan
