GENDER ISSUES IN KENYA

MYTHS AND FACTS ABOUT MEN COMBATING GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

(Written on 12th May 2012) 

The formation of Maendeleo Ya Wanaume brought about laughter and ridicule among many people in the society who viewed men as “DOMINANT SUPERIOR BEINGS” and who cannot be subdued by anyone especially a woman…However, recent trends in Kenya show that the tables have been turned against men who are on the receiving end of domestic violence from  “IRON-CLAD WOMEN”…

In order to curb this vice, it is high time men are involved in eliminating Gender Based Violence(GBV).However, certain myths among men  have to be dealt with in combating GBV by getting our facts right. Stigma and fear are the biggest enemies of men who face GBV and must be eliminated…

The following myths are very common about men;-

(1)Men cannot be feminists.

(2)Men in the movement for gender equality are motivated by selfish financial interests, are not accountable and will abandon the mission as soon as the finances dry up.

(3)All men are perpetrators of violence against women.

(4)African men cannot change to embrace gender equality.

(5)Men who advocate gender equality are henpecked, weak and concealing their true identity.

However, the true facts about men are as follows;-

(1) Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights for women. It’s the emancipation of women from any form of discrimination. Both men and women have the capacity to develop sensitivity to the suffering of women and a commitment to changing unsatisfactory situations as Masculinists.

(2)Most men who take part or work for gender equality are self-driven and do it out of pure consciousness mostly as volunteers to improve the society.

(3)Men have been suffering silently due to domestic violence meted on them by their “masculine-endowed” wives. However, men are now coming out openly to tell their side of the story. The notion that women are always the end-receivers of violence from men is becoming a façade and a fallacy.

(4)The dominant nature of men has been diminished and men value women more than ever. Men have adopted new ways of thinking and lifestyles that promote human rights values and dignity. Men have become caring and concerned about women needs and wants.

(5)Men who advocate for gender equality respect human rights and want them to be protected. Women are no less-being that men. Both are capable of pursuing different opportunities presented to them on equal platforms.

Thus the only way to deal with GBV cross-board is to bring everyone on board both men and women…Society has to be made to understand that domestic violence whether against women or men will not help us in any way…People have to learn to live in harmony. Where there are disagreements, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms such as reconciliation, mediation etc should be tried. Incase, they fail, then separation should be sort and not resort to domestic violence…

As my Famous Original Quote says,” VIOLENCE BEGOTS VIOLENCE, LOVE BEGOTS LOVE” 

FEMALE SUPERIORITY COMPLEX:-A Historical Case Study of Central Kenya Men Battery & Assault

(Written on 13th Feb 2012) 

People have been wondering why men are being battered by their wives in Central Kenya but wonder no more...

Mr. Nderitu Njoka,chairman of Maendeleo ya Wanaume recently claimed that 460000 cases of domestic violence against men were reported in Central Kenya in a survey carried out last year.Of this 160,000 cases were reported to be undergoing emotional stress & 300,000 cases had been physically assaulted.

This statistics are a cause for alarm but before we start cursing & dehumanising these women,we have to go back to history to understand their "manly" behaviour equivalent...

Cases of domestic violence against men can be traced to the high handed female colonial chief,WANGU WA MAKERI,who reigned in Murang'a with "Iron Fist"during her era...

So who was Wangu Wa Makeri & what was her impact as a chief???

In Central Kenya,the political structure took the system of chiefdom with paramount chiefs ruling entire areas.The Kikuyu society was highly patriarchal with one EXCEPTION which can explain the root cause of husband battery...


In the mid-19th century,a paramount chief appointed a woman,WANGU WA MAKERI,as Chief of an area near modern day Murang'a.She proved to be a very powerful & authoritarian ruler.Rigid order was maintained,& she was widely supported by the female population.

She was known to treat her male subjects harshly,& it is believed that she even used to require men to kneel on all fours so that she could sit on their backs.Dissent among the male ranks grew,& a very unique political coup was hatched...

What happened next will probably leave you laughing hysterically & uncontrollable for a long while.
Question is,can it be repeated to tame violence against men?...lets find out if history can be rewritten...

All of the men plotted to impregnate their wives at around the same time,knowing that in nine months the majority of Makeri's supporters would be physically disabled by the signs & symptoms of pregnancies...

This actually worked,& a wave of random planned pregnancies including (Makeri herself) swept her from power...
Their bright/wise idea had finally bore fruit.

The men easily assumed control of the female population,almost entire heavily pregnant,in childbirth,or nursing,were powerless to stop this unusual,bloodless coup...

But that was not the end of men miseries.Their victory was short lived.sadly history has judged them harshly again...media is full of reports domineering on domestic violence against men...The women seem to have regained their domineering supremacy again to the shock of men...

Let me not sound sarcastic but honestly,our brothers need help.their cries are now clearer than before...


5 FUNDAMENTAL QUESTIONS CENTRAL KENYA MEN SHOULD ASK THEMSELVES...

(1)Has their fate been SEALED?...it seems so or,
(2)should they be submissive to their wives?

(3)have they been reduced to the main role of fathering/procreation of children only then left without conjugal rights due to matrimonial disagreements?
(4)should they continue imbibing Muratina & suffer in silence?
(5)should they now resolve to marry women from other areas in Kenya?
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THE BALL IS IN YOUR COURT NOW...CHOOSE WISELY...