Mama Monica Mwahanje, elaborating her point in a past workshop
This story is about the initiative of Monica Mwahanje, who is one of the twelve women ToTs, recruited by the NCCK Coast region in her implementation of Ugatuzi Na Haki project. The project seeks to advance inclusive and transparent devolved governance processes in Kwale county, with a bias to women. The project is supported by the UNDP Kenya, through Amkeni Wakenya; Furthering the SDG 16, Peace , Justice and Strong Institution.
Mama Mwahanje represents Puma Ward, which includes both Puma and Vigurungani areas. Monica has developed good coordination with the local administrators; village units and ward, and as such have used their platform to empower the community on the need for people-centred and accountable governance.
Local community leadership has been dominated by men for a long time. Women have felt so much disempowered that the only place where they believed they would play a role in decision making, was in the kitchen. The women of Puma and Vigurungani believe that their men hold unilateral unchallenged authority to make decisions, and that theirs’ was to take and execute orders, however traditions are to blame, it turned out that men can now reconsider their strong stance.
Recently mama Mwahanje attended one of the local community public meetings, organized by the ward administrator, this time round it was joint villages meeting called to elect their village development committee. Before the elections, Monica was offered an opportunity to talk about inclusive and transparent governance.
During the elections, which immediately followed the civic education session, the women stepped forward to be nominated and elected. They pleaded with the community members who attended the public forum to observe inclusivity, and as such the 2/3 gender rule was observed, something which had not been observed in the past. The meeting which brought together 7 villages, meaning the committee was to comprise 7 members, where 3 of them were women. Even the women in the forum were surprised since their men after the education, offered them support.
Mama Mwahanje is optimistic that the women selected in the committee will be vibrant and good stewards, and will therefore bring honor to their fellow women in Puma.
