In 2003, immediately after the cusp of the election victory where the preferred candidate of the incumbent was handed a political drubbing, the then minister of justice and constitutional affairs, Mr Kiraitu Murungi, was involved in a tiff with organisations that champion and aggressively advocate for the emancipation of women rights and gender rights. The minister sullied his impeccable reputation as defender of human rights when he made an illegitimate observation about women being too willing to be raped.
As expected the comment generated a lot of friction and opened a floodgate of condemnation from a chorus of women organizations, but particularly F.I.D.A representatives did not embrace reticence to railroad the minister for his inelegant comment. The cream of administration in F.I.DA, were sufficiently brutal in their assessment of the sentiment expressed by the minister.
F.I.D.A representatives urged the minister of justice and constitutional affairs to show remorse over his statement .they further condemned the minister’s statement as an inelegant comment that was shorn of decorum that should be afforded to women.
They expressed their utmost displeasure that a political leader who is supposed to offer directions and shape policies that will expand women rights was perpetuating ineffective narratives that are wont to aggravate a situation, thus a testification that the efforts to realize emancipation of girl-child will be handicapped by such type of chauvinistic statements from political leaders who are expected to champion and agitate for gender equality both in principle and practice
They further urged political leaders and opinion-shapers to exercise restraint and introspection when making public pronouncements.
LAWYER UP 