Paul Ohia With Agency Report
1 May 2009
Lagos — Irked by the recent constitutional crises that arose among the coalition government partners in Kenya, women in the country have decided to deny men sex for seven days.
Yesterday, thousands of the women vowed to begin a week-long sex strike to protest their country's bickering leadership, which they say threatens to revive the bloody chaos of last year.
Leaders from Kenya's largest and oldest group dedicated to women's rights, the Women's Development Organisation, said they hoped the boycott would persuade men to pressure government to make peace.
The women have also called on the wives of President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga to abstain from sex
"We are asking even sex workers to join the cause, even if we have to pay them ourselves," said Patricia Nyaundi, executive director of the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya.
Odinga's wife, Ida, told CNN yesterday that she supports the campaign "100 percent."
"I will not get into what my husband thinks," she said, chuckling, "but I will say leaders need to focus on the things that affect our people, and I hope the publicity from this campaign will raise awareness on those issues. "
The campaign has sparked debate in a conservative nation where discussing sex in public is typically taboo.
"This will accomplish nothing other than embarrass us," said Martin Kamau, a resident of Nakuru, a major city northwest of the capital. "We are being punished, and yet we are not the ones causing the problems."
Kamau plans to plead his case with his wife. "Seven days is just too much," he said.
Others were not so worried. "Seven days is nothing," one man told KTN, a Nairobi television station. "I can wait a year."
People in Kenya have become increasingly frustrated by a shaky coalition government formed in the wake of the post-election violence that killed more than 1,000 people in 2008. Relations between Kibaki and Odinga have become frosty, sparking fears of more violence.
"We cannot allow our leaders to argue over non-issues while relegating the issues that affect this country to the back burner. When this happens, women suffer the most," said Ann Njogu, director of Centers for Rights Education and Awareness, which describes itself as a non-partisan organization that "seeks to empower the society on women's human rights."
A government official decried the campaign, saying Kibaki has always been committed to reform.
"We are trying, coalitions all over the world have issues and so do we," said Francis Mwaka, head of the government's communications office. "We have always been focused on addressing problems even before this boycott."
In addition to targeting politicians, activists say the campaign aims to draw spouses into the conversation and nudge them into demanding change.
"Major decisions are made during pillow talk," Nyaundi said. "We have to make the ultimate sacrifice for the good of this country."
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This is pathetic what happened to picketing, petitions, campaigning, etc all Kenya women can do is a sex ban. Is that all an African woman can do to bring political change? Now i understand why women get raped at will during periods of political unrest.
Funke, I agree about the pathetic side of the protest, but it's like the situation is so bad that woman didn't find any reasonable way to signify their disappointment. They could have gone on strike of cooking, or washing the dishes, or the laundry... But in that case, other than men would have suffered from it. It's like those women are a little bit more responsible than their men. But I don't understand how you can see this explained protest to justify rapes, which can never be justified!
I dissagree with Funke. Africa leaders are so insensitive that they don't mind whose ox is gored. They are selfish that they care less about a woman protest and all the government do is send police or millitary to curtail such a protest. So employing an idea to deny all men sex in order to bring the issue on board is not only genius but creative. I tell you, everybody, especially men will be talking about the protest which if in a normal protest wont even make no impact. I support the idea cause is not only humourous but stick in the brain. Imagine the wife of Raila Odinga, Kenya prime minister, said she's part of this. On an ordinary protest, she might have gone shopping and wouldnt even know there is a protest going on. In fact it is not the SEX denying that matters but using it as an avenue to make the protest have impact....but hey on a serious note, every man likes sex..hehehehe....Viva Kenyan Women.
What a pig to make a comment regarding the reason women are reaped in Africa. I say power to the women who are the life force of the earth. Now we will get somewhere because if they hold out even longer the effect will be great. There are many ways to protest this is just one that will be effective. You seem to me to be a rapist with such a vile attitude towards women! You are a PIG! Hopefuly there are no women in your family because you have shamed them all. Ask God to forgive your vile tongue and change your nasty attitude towards women!
The Gate Keeper
I dissagree with Funke. Africa leaders are so insensitive that they don't mind whose ox is gored. They are selfish that they care less about a woman protest and all the government do is send police or millitary to curtail such a protest. So employing an idea to deny all men sex in order to bring the issue on board is not only genius but creative. I tell you, everybody, especially men will be talking about the protest which if in a normal protest wont even make no impact. I support the idea cause is not only humourous but stick in the brain. Imagine the wife of Raila Odinga, Kenya prime minister, said she's part of this. On an ordinary protest, she might have gone shopping and wouldnt even know there is a protest going on. In fact it is not the SEX denying that matters but using it as an avenue to make the protest have impact....but hey on a serious note, every man likes sex..hehehehe....Viva Kenyan Women.
I am 100% behind the action of Kenyan women; this is bottom power in action.
Unfortunately however, most of those in power are either impotent or on the verge of being impotent, and this strike will have little effect on their psyche, and it is the poor guy on the street whose only form of relief is through the comfort of his wife or girl friend who will be the hardest hit.
That notwithstanding, I think the sex strike is a step in the right direction, and if one week denial fails to do the trick, they must extend the strike indefinitely. They must also include such things as cooking, and refuse to perform any chores for the men.
Any woman who is threatened with divorce must contact me for free legal representation, and this time we will hit them where it hurts the most - the wallet.
Cudos to the Kenyan woman.
See all comments (16).
I call for Zimbabwean women to follow suit. Deny your men sex for two full weeks and you will see that the GNU will start working well to the benefit of the people. BOB should be denied sex. Grace do you here the call