By Purity Nthiana

Since 1911, the world has celebrated not only Women’s History Month in March but also International Women’s Day on March 8th. Each year we highlight the importance of empowering and meaningfully involving women in all important aspects of society.

One of the major issues that women face, especially in Kenya, is gender-based violence (GBV). Just this month we saw news headlines of a man killing his wife due to a financial disagreement, while another murdered his wife after finding out that she was having an extra-marital affair. We also saw one of the biggest marches in the country against femicide held in January.

Yet, there are still groups, organizations, and individuals in the country who are committed to clawing back the rights of women and girls that have been well earned. We saw it when Christian organizations that claim to “defend and protect life,” said nothing about femicide and when women in leadership cowered behind seats in parliament and did not speak of this issue.  

The right to life must extend beyond talking about fetuses and should also include the quality of life that makes it easy for a woman to make a wise decision about her reproductive health. Speaking of the right to life means speaking broadly of accessing medical care without stigma. 

Let us not turn a blind eye and pretend. Young people engage in sexual activity at a much younger age than most religious persons or parents would want to admit. It is also a harsh reality that most sexual abuse affects women more seriously than it affects men. Equally harsh is the fact that men constitute the majority of perpetrators of these offenses. Now, as organizations such as the Kenya Christian Professionals Forum (KCPF) led by Charles Kanjama march for the dignity of human life, they should also march and speak up on the need to protect the lives of women and girls.

Why stay silent and at home when the women go through sexual and GBV right under their noses inside the church, only to organize elaborate marches when those abused women choose to terminate forced pregnancies that resulted from GBV? Why do we not march to ask our sons, nephews, and male friends to be responsible for their actions? 

If we are going to be passionate about human life, let us not pick sides and simply ignore what is right before our eyes. Teaching about reproductive health does not encourage sexual behavior but rather helps our young generation and most especially our vulnerable young girls to make safer and wiser choices. 

Being informed about consent will ensure that their “no” is firm and undoubted without the need to prove anything. Let us march to support such progress in our society because, with even the advancement of technology, our girls are left more vulnerable.

If faith-based organizations want to fight for something, let them fight for life in all its complexity and diversity. Let them fight against GBV, rape, and other social injustices against women. These issues are still a major thorn in the flesh of our society. Stop causing traffic by trying to impose personal beliefs on others without touching on real-life issues.

Ms Purity Nthiana is a Sexual and Reproductive Health Advocate with NAYA Kenya