Kenya 60 Years Ago: The Role Of Women In The Path To Progress

As Kenya celebrates 60 years of independence from British colonial rule, its freedom, like any other country’s, was hard-won involving the actions of brave political leaders, activists, freedom fighters – and its women.

- IBADA AHMED

Women currently constitute more than half of Kenya’s 55 million population.

It is crucial to understand their experiences in the political and socioeconomic landscape, by examining the country’s history and current reality. Since 1963, women’s rights in the country have made significant progress but not without notable setbacks.

The women who played a pivotal role in the struggle for independence bravely took an oath of unity in arms, at a time when it was not fashionable to do so. History calls these women a nation’s “founding mothers”. They include women like Mekatilili wa Menza, Muthoni Kirima, Mukami Kimathi, Mary Nyanjiru, Wambui Otieno, amongst several illustrious others. Six decades on, we remember these female freedom fighters and salute them.

Despite the role women played in the liberation, Kenyan culture continued to be shaped by customary laws and remained patriarchal; surprisingly, a different rhetoric from the one widely shared during the struggle for independence, where women were seen as important counterparts.