Source: Nairobi Star
Women leaders in Nyanza yesterday said the third Millennium Development goal that demands promotion of gender equality may not be achieved despite the new constitution being gender sensitive.

The women who spoke in Kisumu during a gender and advocacy training organised by Uhai Lake Forum said political violence and intimidation by their male counterparts often threaten their chances of winning political contests.

Led by Kisumu county gender based coordinator Faridah Salim, Margaret Ondier, Rebecca Aluodo and Rose Oyugi, they lamented that unless proper measures are put in place, women will continue to do dismally in elective posts. They claimed that attempts by women to take up leadership positions especially in Nyanza region has always met resistance from their male counterparts.

Uhai Lake forum Project coordinators Mark Ogolla and Tom Onyango said their organization will continue to sponsor gender and advocacy trainings to enlighten the female on the need to increase their participation in leadership and governance positions.

They said they will carry out civic education in Siaya and Homabay Counties "where women are not well represented in leadership" so that they can take an active role in leadership.

• Kenya