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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 06 NAIROBI 000817 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR G/IWI AND AF A/S FRAZER 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PHUM KWMN KPAO KE
SUBJECT:  International Women's Day and Mission Efforts on Gender 
Equity 
 
REF:  07 NAIROBI 4596 
 
¶1.  On March 11 the Ambassador hosted a reception for 500 prominent 
 
Kenya women to celebrate International Women's Day.  The event and 
the 
Ambassador's remarks were widely covered by the media.  Guests 
included 
women from civil society, the private sector, government, 
Parliament, 
and various walks of life.  The Ambassador used the event to 
highlight 
support for gender equity as one of the Mission's top priorities. 
He 
also emphasized U.S. support for the political accord, and 
emphasized 
the key role women played in achieving that.  The International 
Women's 
Day event was part of a coordinated Mission effort to address a wide 
 
range of issues regarding gender equity.  These efforts include the 
 
Women's Justice and Empowerment Initiative, which was signed in 
December 
¶2007.  A Mission working group coordinates efforts to ensure a 
comprehensive approach drawing on all appropriate USG resources. 
Reftel 
reported on the Mission's use of the International Day for the 
Elimination of Violence Against Women as an opportunity to carry out 
an 
extensive program during the 16 days of activism and to highlight 
gender 
equity as a policy priority. 
 
¶2. Begin text of Ambassador's remarks. 
 
 
I warmly welcome you to celebrate International Women's Day. We are 
 
joining together to celebrate the strength, courage, and 
contributions 
of women everywhere. I want to stress that the United States is 
strongly committed to promoting gender equity.  We want to work with 
 
you to foster the rights of Kenyan women and their increased 
participation in all aspects of social, political, and economic 
life. 
We view this as an integral part of the strong and growing 
U.S.-Kenyan 
Partnership. 
 
Though their efforts are sometimes invisible in the larger world, 
women 
are often the real agents for change in society, working to improve 
the 
lives of the people in their communities even as they struggle to 
feed 
and educate their children. The importance of the role of a woman 
and 
mother is highlighted in the Kiswahili proverb: Asiyefunzwa na 
mamaye 
ufunzwa na ulimwengu (If you do not follow your mother's teachings, 
the 
world will take over).   Unleashing the potential of women is 
crucial 
in so many ways, from economic development to the welfare of 
families. 
In fact, without full and open participation of women in all aspects 
of 
society, strong and lasting democratic development will not be 
achieved.  Studies show that when a higher number of women hold 
elected 
office, the rate of public corruption declines while other quality 
of 
life indicators rise.   I know that some of the distinguished women 
 
here recently participated in the UN Conference on the Status of 
Women 
which discussed these very issues.  I congratulate you for so ably 
representing the women of Kenya. 
 
NAIROBI 00000817  002 OF 006 
 
 
 
Among so many distinguished women here this evening, I would like to 
 
recognize Fatuma Abdulkadir Adan.  Fatuma works to promote 
non-violent 
conflict resolution among the Borana and Gabra peoples. She also has 
 
worked tirelessly to reduce the resistance of Borana and Gabra 
elders 
to female political candidates. For these efforts, Fatuma was our 
Mission's nominee for the State Department's 2007 Freedom Defenders 
 
award.  Congratulations to you Fatuma. 
 
-------------------------- 
Political Gains, But Much 
Remains to be Accomplished 
-------------------------- 
 
Kenyan women are making hard-fought gains, but much more remains to 
be 
accomplished.  In the 2007 elections a record number of women ran 
for 
public office at all levels, and did so with immense courage in the 
 
face of threats and violence.  Their perseverance paid dividends as 
21 
women were sworn in as members of the 10th Parliament.  Although 
this 
number is still low, there are reasons for continued optimism. 
Women 
MPs from the 9th Parliament who ran for re-election recaptured their 
 
seats at nearly twice the rate of male incumbents.  This shows that 
 
when women overcome the many obstacles Kenyan political culture 
presents and gain positions of authority, they gain the respect and 
 
loyalty of their constituents and are accepted as leaders.  While 
the 
10th Parliament will focus particularly on the reform process, I 
urge 
the women MPs to use their five-year term to advance issues of 
gender 
equity and build upon the legacy of their predecessors who were 
instrumental in passing landmark legislation, such as the Sexual 
Offenses Act of 2006. 
 
The US will continue to assist women in exercising their right to 
political participation by funding programs to develop women 
leaders. 
Last year, five Kenyan women participated in the Embassy's 
International Visitors program, undertaking study programs on 
politics, 
law, and conflict resolution that they have applied in their work in 
 
Kenya.   In addition, ten Kenyan women visited the U.S. for two 
weeks 
under the "Kenyans Working for Good Governance" citizen exchange 
program organized by the League of Women Voters and funded by the 
U.S. 
These programs will continue to support women in their quest for 
increased representation in Kenya's political life. 
 
While noting how much remains to be accomplished, it is also 
important 
to take stock of how much has been achieved, particularly during the 
 
past five years.  I commend President Kibaki for the initiative he 
undertook to institute a program of affirmative action in government 
 
hiring.  I also welcome the government's recently announced 
commitment 
to increase by 2 billion KS the Women's Enterprise Fund. 
 
-------------------- 
The Political Crisis 
-------------------- 
 
As we know too well, the recent crisis and the violence which 
 
NAIROBI 00000817  003 OF 006 
 
 
accompanied it caused great pain and suffering in Kenya.  Women and 
 
their children suffered the most. In my visits to displaced persons 
 
camps, I have been deeply touched by the resilience and strength of 
 
women -- who have often lost everything -- and impressed by their 
desire 
to pick up the pieces and build a better future for themselves and 
their families 
 
Kenyan women played a crucial role in resolving this country's 
recent 
political crisis.   The voices of the mothers, sisters and daughters 
of 
Kenya reverberated with the leadership of both sides.  Groups like 
Vital Voices, Women for Peace and Justice, and the Federation of 
Women 
Lawyers, just to name a few, were at the forefront of calming 
tensions 
and helping achieve an equitable solution. Countless women played a 
 
similar role in thousands of communities and households across the 
country.   I congratulate you for playing such a crucial role to 
energize Kenya's democratic spirit in such an effective way.   Your 
 
country owes you an immense debt of gratitude. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Recognizing Defenders of Human Rights and Peace 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
There are too many distinguished women in attendance tonight to 
recognize all your contributions to achieving the political accord 
and 
ending violence.  I will just ite one who has played an important 
role 
in civil society: 
 
-- Njeri Kabeberi,  Executive Director of the Center for Multi-Party 
 
Democracy 
 
She is just one of the many Kenyans who spoke out publicly for 
peace, 
justice and the defense of human rights. As a result she, along with 
 
other human rights defenders, received death threats, but carried on 
in 
this important work.  Your bravery and dedication to Kenya are an 
inspiration to us all. 
 
I would also like to recognize Ms. Betty Maina who, as chair of the 
 
Kenyan Association of Manufacturers, organized the business 
community 
to bring pressure on political leaders.  Working tirelessly, she 
made 
known the negative economic effects of the crisis on the business 
community and on the average Kenyan. 
 
I urge each and every one of you to continue to press your leaders 
as 
they implement the reform agenda in order to ensure that they 
fulfill 
the promise of a more inclusive, more prosperous, and more just 
Kenya. 
 
--------------------------------------- 
Historic Opportunities and U.S. Support 
--------------------------------------- 
 
The unprecedented crisis which Kenya experienced provides an 
historic 
opportunity for the country to emerge with stronger democratic 
institutions, an even more vibrant economy to benefit all citizens, 
and 
a more inclusive and cohesive society.  I want to note just of few 
of 
the many efforts we are undertaking both to help Kenya emerge 
 
NAIROBI 00000817  004 OF 006 
 
 
stronger 
from the crisis and, more broadly, to promote gender equity. 
 
--The United States will provide support as Kenyans work to recover 
 
from the crisis and address the underlying causes that fueled 
violence. 
I recently announced that the U.S. government has pledged $25 
million 
to support Kenya's reform, reconciliation, and rebuilding process. 
 
Kenyan women, who will be at the forefront of these efforts, will 
directly benefit from this support. 
 
--To address gender-based violence, the US and Kenyan governments 
recently signed the Women's Justice Empowerment Initiative, which 
will 
provide $10 million to the Kenyan government as it implements the 
Sexual Offenses Act of 2006.  This initiative will increase public 
awareness of the availability of legal remedies and care and support 
 
services and strengthening the capacity of the legal system -- from 
 
investigation through prosecution -- to protect women from sexual 
violence. Working together with the Kenyan government, we will 
create 
Kenya's first-ever rape crisis center with DNA forensics equipment, 
 
donated by the US government.  In addition, we plan to extend and 
deepen our cooperation with our civil society partners whose 
programs 
address gender-based violence. 
 
--In the area of health, we are continuing to support programs 
reduce 
the incidence of Female Genital Mutilation.  The Mission works with 
 
teachers to reach a larger proportion of affected communities, 
especially the children they teach, to reduce the rate of FGM in 
Kenya. 
In other areas of the country, we fund programs that promote an 
alternative coming-of-age rite to take the place of FGM.   For 
example, 
Ruth Konchellah and her organization Cherish Others is implementing 
an 
anti-FGM/C education program aimed at school children in the 
TransMara 
region. This program will reach approximately 600 young women and 30 
 
village leaders.   I am pleased to announce that, for the second 
year in 
a row, we will support and I will participate in Cherish Other's 
annual 
anti-FGM run in April.  This worthwhile event brings needed public 
attention to the need to eliminate FGM.  I only wish I was going to 
be 
more of a threat to the Kenyan runners. 
 
--In that regard, yet another remarkable example of the initiatives 
 
women are undertaking is the famous Kenyan runner Tegla Laroupe.  We 
 
regularly support and I regularly attend the peace runs which she 
sponsors to bring together groups in conflict in the Kapenguria 
area. 
 
--Through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief 
(PEPFAR), 
the U.S. Government is providing significant support to Kenyan women 
 
and girls in the context of prevention, treatment, and care of HIV. 
 
Two-thirds of those receiving PEPFAR-supported anti-retroviral 
therapy 
in Kenya are women.  Nearly 800,000 pregnant women in Kenya have 
received counseling and testing for prevention of mother-to-child 
transmission of HIV, and more than 50,000 of mothers testing HIV+ 
have 
received a complete course of anti-retroviral prophylaxis to protect 
 
 
NAIROBI 00000817  005 OF 006 
 
 
their babies from infection. 
 
PEPFAR was also the first development partner in Kenya to support 
both 
integrated gender-based violence and HIV programs at Nairobi Women's 
 
Hospital and the provision of post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) to 
women 
who have been raped and potentially exposed to HIV.  PEPFAR remains 
the 
sole development partner to disaggregate its HIV program data by 
gender, a critical step to ensure HIV interventions are targeted to, 
 
and sensitive of, the unique vulnerabilities faced by women and 
girls. 
 
--We know that economic empowerment of women is one of the most 
effective ways to improve their status.   Currently women provide 80 
 
percent of agricultural labor and manage 40 percent of Kenya's 
smallholder farms, yet they own only 1 per cent of agricultural land 
 
and access only 10 per cent of credit. USAID Economic Growth 
programs 
have helped women increase their access to finance, markets and 
trade, 
and improved agricultural inputs and technologies. We will redouble 
our 
efforts to see that micro-finance efforts are targeted to women who 
 
have suffered in the post-election crisis. 
 
--Education is another key to improving the lives of women.  We 
support 
girls' education through the Ambassador's Scholarship Program, which 
 
provides scholarships to 3,000 female primary and secondary school 
students. 
 
In these and many other ways, we are working to promote gender 
equity. 
It is vitally important that we work in close consultation with 
civil 
society and the government to ensure that programs are effective. 
With 
this goal in mind, I am pleased to announce tonight the formation of 
a 
Women's Advisory Panel on Gender Equity Issues to share ideas and 
feedback with me and my team.  I will invite representatives of 
civil 
society, business, and academia to participate.  I look forward to 
your 
insights and advice.  This initiative testifies to our commitment to 
 
intensifying our partnership with Kenya's women in order to help 
empower them. 
 
Looking at the accomplishments of Kenyan women, there is great 
reason 
to be hopeful about the future.  Before closing, I want to recognize 
 
five outstanding examples of young women; from the powerful to the 
humble. 
 
--I want to congratulate Munza Hanif, who was the top female student 
in 
the 2007 KSCE.   I commend you for your hard work and initiative. 
You 
have a very bright future ahead of you, and we'll be expecting great 
 
things! 
 
--Suzanne Kilolo, who is the investment manager for African Alliance 
 
Kenya Investment Bank.  There she manages client portfolios valued 
at 
10 billion Kshs, showing that bright, ambitious women can succeed in 
 
the financial services sector. 
 
 
NAIROBI 00000817  006 OF 006 
 
 
--Serah Mwangi, who as managing director of Focus Publishers for the 
 
past 13 years, has been instrumental in nourishing the careers of 
some 
of Kenya's best authors and built a successful business at the same 
 
time. 
 
--Eddah Wambui, a mother of two, who supports her two boys working 
long 
hours as a shoeshine at city market.   She is, quite literally, a 
shining example. 
 
--Inviolata Mmbwavi, an HIV positive mother of a teenage daughter, 
who 
has been a tireless advocate for the rights of HIV positive 
Kenyans. 
Inviolata recently formed her own organization, Positive Living 
Support 
Groups Networks, to assist HIV positive persons.  We wish you much 
success in your new endeavor. 
 
Let me close by quoting the writer Margaret Ogola regarding the 
all- 
important role Kenyan women and mothers play:  Mamangu alinipa 
busara 
na maisha ya mamake pamoja na nyanyake.  Nguvu na msaada ambazo 
zinapatikana katika jamii ya Waafrika ni muhimu zaidi kwa kuwa ni 
sehemu ya utamaduni wetu na zinapaswa kuhifadhiwa na kulelewa kwa 
vyovyote vile. ("My mother handed down to me the wisdom and lives of 
 
her own mother and grandmother. This strength and support that is 
found 
in the African family is the most important part of our culture, and 
 
should be preserved and nurtured at all costs.") 
 
Please take advantage of tonight's well-deserved opportunity to 
celebrate your many accomplishments. Thank you all for coming. I 
wish 
you all continued success as you work to ensure a brighter future 
for 
Kenya and Kenyan women. 
 
End text. 
RANNEBERGER