Women’s Participation in Constitution-Making Process in Kenya (S.3, Part 8)

Abstract

This 40minutes 57seconds-long video was recorded in June 2017. Kamla Sikand is a descendant of a doctor who was brought to Kenya during the construction of the Kenya – Uganda railway by the British colonialist. She studied nursing in London, Britain. She applied for and was subsequently hired as a headmistress for an all-white nursing school. She was the first coloured person to work in the institution. Though she initially experienced some kind of discrimination, she was able to transform the institution to the extent that non-white students of Kenyan and United Nations Dignitaries joined the institution. Having started the struggle for human rights, she became interested in women’s education and development. She was well aware that this could only be realized if women joined organizations including NCWK. Later, they founded the Women’s Political Alliance – Kenya. Some of the key leaders under the women’s movement, with whom Kamla worked, was Prof. Wangari Maathai. During the constitution-making process, she opened her home, 24/7, to women who held many meetings when they had no funds to meet in hotels. Women also held meetings with their guests, including the first lady from South Africa, in her garden. She notes that despite their disparities, women were very united on women’s issues. During the National Constitutional Conference at Bomas, she represented Asian Women in the women’s organizations. At Bomas, she worked with other women to protect the rights of women and other marginalized women. According to Kamla, Kenyans produced one of the best constitutions both for women and Kenyans in general. She notes that women today have better opportunities to push for women’s rights. She underscores the significance of unity and each individual’s commitment to contribute to the country to move forward with regard to development.