Kenyan Women Protest Government Infighting with Sex Ban

By: Katie Pfefferle

In late 2007 and early 2008 violence erupted in Kenya after the incumbent President, President Mwai Kibaki, was accused of rigging the election in order to beat popular candidate Raila Odinga. Amid the accusations, Odinga, declaring himself the “People’s President,” called for Kibaki to resign. The protests escalated into violence. Eventually, Kofi Annan and other influential Africans brokered a compromise which formed a coalition government with Kibaki as President and Odinga as Prime Minister. However, over 1,000 people were killed, many injured and many more displaced. Women suffered the worst from this violence. At least 3,000 women were raped and a significant majority of those killed were women.

The coalition government has begun breaking down and the government is consumed by political infighting. While the infighting has sparked fears of further violence, women’s organizations throughout Kenya have decided to take action. The Women’s Development Organization of Kenya, which is made up of 11 different women’s rights groups, has called for all Kenyan women to impose a national ban on sex, starting last Wednesday, in order to protest the political infighting. To them, sex is the one issue that cuts across all political and cultural dividers. The idea is to generate discussion about the state of the government and hopefully to put pressure on the government to cooperate with itself. So far it seems to be working. The ban has been the constant topic on the media and news in Kenya this past week. Even Odinga’s wife has weighed in, saying she supports the ban 100%.

Many men, however, oppose the ban, saying it is unfair to punish the husbands for the government’s problems. Still, as Patricia Nyundi, the director of the Federation of Women’s Lawyers, explains, “During post-election violence women paid the highest price. We were sexually assaulted, we were the highest casualties. That's why we are telling women today that if we allow the situation to deteriorate any further we will be the ones to pay." Moreover, this protest draws women into the political arena. It will be interesting to see how effective this unique form of protest will be in initiating reform. It might be a useful tool for women’s groups in other countries to use to oppose the mistreatment and repression of women by their governments.