Ida Odinga pays tribute to women who fought for change

Wednesday, 09 March 2011 00:02 BY MOSOKU GEOFFREY

STRONG: Ida Odinga

Ida odinga has paid tribute to women who participated in the fight for the second liberation. She said the women suffered in the 90s during the clamour for change as either participants or having their loved ones jailed. “I take this time to remember the mothers and wives of political prisoners and the numerous women who fought for change," she said.

She was speaking at a Nairobi hotel yesterday during an event to honour various women for their humanitarian efforts to help the needy. The day event coincided the International Women’s Day which was marked worldwide.

Ida said women are charged with various responsibilities in the development of the society and ought to be supported in all ways. She warned employers who mistreat women, especially breast feeding mothers, saying that the law protected them.

The Prime Minister’s wife said the government has come up with measures to reduce the number of women who die while giving birth. Through these measures, Ida said, infant mortality will be reduced, as chances of children surviving whose mothers have died at birth are minimal.

Sex offenders were warned that new technology will catch those who have been escaping for lack of evidence. US ambassador Michael Ranneberger said his government will announce a new fund that will be used to empower Kenyan women. “I am having another function this evening where I will announce a fund towards women empowerment,” Ranneberger said.

Former Vice President Moody Awori asked Kenyan men to accord women respect and equality as this will lead to development. Public Health minister Beth Mugo announced that the government has began free screening of breast and cervical cancer.

She said women should take advantage and go for testing so that disease is managed at an early stage. She emphasized the need for partners and spouses to have a joint HIV tests to combat the disease.

Gichugu MP Martha Karua challenged women to take up leadership roles as the new constitution has affirmed the rights which they had been denied earlier.