Mijikenda Women Resolve To Change Socio-Political, Economic Wellbeing of Coast Region
A group of Mijikenda women leaders have resolved to proactively seek viable solutions to various issues affecting the community among them the perennial cases of insecurity in the Coast region.
Meeting at the Mekatilili Cultural Center owned by the Malindi District Cultural Association (MADCA) at Malindi, the over 35 women also promised to intervene in the bizarre killings of old men suspected of witchcraft in some parts of the region.
They further called on the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) to facilitate an inter-community dialogue peace forum comprising regional elders and their counterparts in Tana River and North Eastern. The women underscored the importance of the meeting to finding a permanent solution to run-away insecurity in the region.
The forum was among a series of peace meetings in the country organized by the Council and her partners under the Pamoja Initiative. The aim of the programme is to provide communities with safe spaces for discussions to find workable solutions on threatening issues. Already such meetings have been held with Myoot, GEMA and Luo Councils of elders as well as youth and women from the Luo community.
On economic empowerment, the Mijikenda women lamented that most of the groups in the region were yet to receive funds channeled through the Women Enterprise Funds despite meeting the requirements. However, Mrs Betty Jilani, the Women Representative at the NCCK Coast Regional Committee, promised to intervene on the matter. The participants agreed to educate other women on how to take advantage of the funds to better their families.
To forestall the growing trend of early pregnancies among school girls, the group agreed to visit primary and secondary schools in the region to sensitize the girl child on sexuality. “We will also intercede for the girls who get pregnant not to be married off and instead be given a chance to continue with schooling,” they said.
