Discrimination and violence against women have forever characterised kenya both in public and private spheres. The present and the previous regimes never marked any changes  that would mark the exit of the cry of our dear women . Just to reflect back on a couple of years ago, 1995 saw more  women from the backseat take to the front seat after the Beijing conference which took a whole new twist when  public debate was charged making the men realize that truely the women were willing to settle on nothing less than equality at all levels of the playing field...they meant business. As a result, the Kenya parliament adopted a motion to adopt the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA). From then on, women were viewed as a threat to patriachal power. So where do we stand today as a result of being charged up? and especially now that Kenya is at a critical moment in its transition of getting a new constitution?

I believe that as women of all strata, we need to realize that responsibility lies not only with the  state but with all the civil society and feminist organisations like Young Women In Leadership Institute(YWLI) to acknowledge that we are not  Bystanders in national issues and engage collectively and see that even after the process is over, the other step will be of continously raising awareness about women's human rights by carrying the constitution to all the kenyan women through civic education which will be our weapon, instead of having running battles in the streets to ensure that we are all aware of our rights.

Let us keep the fire and spirit of Beijing alive!!!!!