Feminism Missed the Matatu, again!
Welcome to the Kenyan society, where the national agenda is thicker than Nairobi traffic and feminism didn’t quite catch the matatu to the main event. Instead, it’s waiting at the stage, trying to hitch a ride with anyone willing to share a bit of spotlight. In this grand theater of unity, where leaders hustle like matatu conductors calling out routes, feminism raises its hand, only to be told, “Subiri kidogo (wait a bit), we’re discussing bigger things like corruption and elections.” It seems gender equality must wait for the next matatu, hopefully, one that isn’t too full.
Economic Empowerment? Very important. Regional cooperation? Can’t do without it. Gender equality? Oh, it’s on the list, right after Sajaka’s agenda “figure out how to make Nairobi traffic move faster.” Meanwhile, green movement is outside, trying to plant trees along Uhuru Highway, and LGBTQ+ rights are scribbling graffiti of love and acceptance in hidden corners of the city. These ‘minor issues’ are like street hawkers at the traffic lights, offering insights nobody realized they needed until the window rolls down.
Sorry, We’re on a Tea Break!
“Can we maybe talk about how all this affects our communities and our lands?” the environmentalist asks, but is met with, “Tutajadili baadaye (we’ll discuss later), after this meeting and possibly another tea break.” The comedy here? It’s as rich as a well-brewed cup of Ketepa tea. Feminism, with its bold ideas of fair treatment for all genders, choices over one’s body, and the wild notion that women deserve a say in matters from politics to media, is like the matatu tout everyone tries to ignore: loud, persistent, and ultimately right.
Market Day for Marginal Issues
Time ticks on, and the chatter of these ‘small’ issues grows louder, turning into the bustling noise of a Masai market. They’re no longer just whispers behind closed doors; they’re the main conversation at every tea stall and bus stop. So, as the Kenyan vision of Pan-Africanism motors along, it may need to tune into the local frequency of these pressing concerns. It’s high time for a real harambee, pulling together not just for the big picture but for every stroke within it. After all, what’s a movement without a little noise, especially when it makes the party better for everyone?
