Kenyans celebrate International Womens Day 2010 in style

Women in African attire perform a tarditional song during marking of International womens Day in Baringo, Kenya. pic by John Ndeta/Ajabu

By John Harry Ndeta, Ajabu Africa News

NAIROBI, Kenya., MARCH 24_Week-long celebrations to mark International Women’s in Kenya culminated into a National Rally at Mombasa on Monday, March 8, 2010.  International Women’s Day is celebrated annually on March, 8 each year; when women from all walks of life, all over the world are celebrated for their achievements in the social, economic and political fronts.

. It is also a day to reflect on the sacrifices and struggles that women have had to make and endure to get recognition as equal partners in development and the challenges and issues that they still face today and how these challenges can be transformed into opportunities.

Each year the International Women’s Day celebrations have different themes and 2010 celebrations were anchored on “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All.”

A display of items and products by women during the International Womens Day celebrations in Baringo, Kenya

In the rural Kenya, communities and tribes that still practice retrogressive cultures such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are being encouraged to shun them. Favoritism of boys in key sectors like education and employment has also been decried by all and sundry who marked the International Women’s Day.

The Ministry of Gender formed the International Women’s Day Celebrations National Steering Committee which oversaw the planning of the events leading to the March 8 when the day was marked worldwide. The NSC was tasked to organize for activities and to identify the main venues for the celebrations. 

The Committee was made up of organizations like Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), the National Commission on Gender and Development, Maendeleo Ya Wanawake (MYWO), National Council of Women in Kenya (NCWK), Abantu for Development, Langata Women’s Prisons, Kenya National Library Services, PeaceNet Kenya and Kenya Airports Authority among others.

The International Women’s Day celebrations in Kenya kicked off March 1, 2010 with a National Launch in Baringo district (North Rift). During the launch representatives from the NSC and officials from the Ministry of Gender provided different services to the needy members of the community including donations. Religious leaders from different churches to held special prayers to commemorate the Women’s Day through the first week of March.

Three ladies pose in front of the International Women's Day banner in Baringo, Kenya

In Nairobi the Young Women Christian Association (YWCA) and the Langata Women’s Prison will hold special prayers respectively. The National Council of Women in Kenya will also be having activities in Kangemi. These include exhibitions, speeches from successful women, a book launch and entertainment.

Civil Societies dealing in Women empowerment in conjunction with the Kenya Government have embarked on a sensitization campaign on women issues across the country in order to engender women issues.