Short Summary: A transition has been taking place in the identity of the woman in Africa, from the most ‘wretched of the earth’ to a reasonably effective social force. In the 1980s, this force became politicised not only by external agencies, but also by internal dynamics and in particular the crisis of local level development. The women’s rights movement in Kenya has grown considerably in the last few years, and recent studies suggest that it is the fastest growing sector within civil society in terms of numbers and activities. This study analyzes the women’s rights movement and its impact on women in particular and on society in general, the assumptions underlying it, as well as its weaknesses and strengths. It looks at the sector against the background of the political–economic changes of the last ten years or so which have seen major changes in Kenya’s political landscape. The author concludes that women’s involvement in the rights movements is determined to a great extent by their marital status. To ensure greater participation by women and thus greater empowerment, married women must be de-linked from the patriarchal system without taking them away from the accepted social unit. De-linking requires that men are educated into accepting the need to empower women and to accord them equal rights and opportunities in all aspects of life. The author recommends developing programmes that are holistic and that address all aspects of women’s lives, especially the social economic aspects. These are llikely to have a greater impact than a purely rights based programme. (Source IDS Governance Programme)
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