In our community, men are viewed as natural-born leaders while women are consigned to servitude; with their main duties being child-raising and household chores. An independent woman is viewed a threat, so women grow-up known as the helpers and are not supposed to overtake men; they should stay behind and watch. To be an independent and strong woman is viewed as being too masculine and that is unacceptable to society.

However this perception has changed since the intervention of GROOTs Kenya Movement who took an active role  in empowering  and building  leadership capacity of grassroots women and as a result, grassroots women in Kiambu, have taken an active role in community leadership  where some have been appointed in different county boards and others taking active role in political leadership .

Before joining GROOTs Kenya in 2012 as a public land enumerator working in Lari sub-county, Nyanduma ward. I was a community mobilizer volunteer in reproductive health under Population Services International and a volunteer teacher at Gatamaiyu Centre for adults. I never considered taking an active role in community leadership but after joining GROOTS, I was challenged to become more actively involved in my community’s affairs.

In 2018 I was granted a scholarship by WEE Effect through the support of GROOTS Kenya, to attend a course on leadership for change at the Cooperative University College of Kenya, through the support of GROOTS Kenya from which I graduated in November 2018 and later nominated to represent GROOTS Kenya at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) conference in New York same year.

At the conference I was given a platform to share my experience as a grassroots community leader to highlight on how women leadership is perceived in the rural areas in relation to education, economic status and family background.

The typical African society is highly patriarchal and this has served to discourage women from becoming leaders, while also lowering their probability of actively engaging in leadership and politics. Once a woman is in leadership, she is scrutinized more than any her male counterparts. Society looks at and comments on her family, level of education and economic status yet they do not do so for a man in the same position.

Despite this Women are rising and defying the patriarchal setback and all this thanks to the support GROOTS Kenya has given to women like me to actively take interest and participate that concern me both at the local and national level.

Asante GROOTS Kenya for investing in bettering and improving the Eco-political lives of Rural women

My name is Susy Musungu, I am 48 years old and I come from Likuyani sub county in Kakamega County. I joined GROOTS Kenya in 2015 while pursuing land for a young woman whose husband had just died and her in-laws had denied her the right to bury him on their legally acquired land. I met a GROOTS Kenya champion in the process and they mapped me to join the movement.

Before I joined GROOTS Kenya, I was involved in articulating issues on ending violence against women, education for the girl child and mobilizing women to participate in public decision making.

GROOTS Kenya has strengthened my leadership skills. It has also provided me with legal knowledge through provision of legal publications, some of which I’m availing to the community.

Through GROOTS Kenya, I was able to pioneer a community library that is resourceful to women and youth especially those pursuing adult education. I’m also able to disseminate information and create awareness on public opportunities.

I took part in the 'Women to Kilimanjaro' campaign, where thousands of women climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro to champion for women’s land rights. I have continued to pursue property inheritance cases for widows and orphans. It’s through GROOTS Kenya that I was appointed to sit on the Land Control Board in my sub county.  Additionally, I can now walk into any public office and demand for services because of the empowerment, something that was initially impossible.

More women now attend public participation forums and contribute to development matters in my locality. GROOTS Kenya organised the grassroots women into groups and the number of women groups with diversified objectives rose which has led to increased adoption of table banking, and poultry & dairy farming. The adoption of these farming practices has led to improved food security.

I am inspired by GROOTS Kenya’s 'never give up' attitude as they continue to positively impact the lives of women in Kenya. The movement is not relentless despite the fact that men are dominant in decision making processes in our communities; women now have the courage to face off with men on a variety of platforms.

GROOTS Kenya is headed to winning the equality contest between women and men in Kenya. I am proud to be part of this movement. Thank you and God bless GROOTS Kenya.

I am Mary Alwanyi, a 49 year old woman leader from Ikolomani in Kakamega County. I joined GROOTS Kenya in 2010 after being mapped by Alice Isoyi for the Gender Tracking Tool.

Previously, I was employed as a store keeper at a local secondary school and I was also a community health worker supporting people living with HIV/AIDS in my locality.

Through GROOTS Kenya, I have now become a recognized leader in my community and I have been appointed to sit on 3 secondary school boards.

Since 2011, I have been working in the gold mines, buying processed gold from neighbors and selling it to other markets.

When GROOTS Kenya began implementing the project ‘Madini Yetu, Wajibu Wetu’ in January 2015, I was selected to support in mobilization and coordination activities. I participated in the initial fact finding mission and the mapping process. GROOTS Kenya recognized my leadership potential, and invested in building my capacity through various trainings and workshops.

Within six months, I was able to articulate key issues and priorities in the mining sector including the mining laws.
Due to my involvement in the project, I was contacted by one of the national media houses in October 2016 to speak about gold mining in Kakamega. This gave me a lot of recognition and credibility especially with the local leaders. Since then, I have been appointed to four different committees in my sub county; a water management committee, a boundaries committee, and in three school management boards.
Together with other women in the mining industry, we have formed a group where we save collectively. Additionally, I have teamed up with another woman and we plan on buying a processor to lessen the women’s burden of processing gold and to make additional income.

Government officials consult me on mining related matters and I am often invited to county government meetings to speak on the same. I hope to mentor and empower more women in the sector.

GROOTS Kenya has been able to organize table banking groups in my community, and more women are getting involved in decision making processes.

In the next five years, I hope to see the grassroots women in the movement acquire assets and the movement moving to the rest of the country.