Saturday, July 20, 2013

First Lady opens up in her new role


First Lady opens up in her new role
By ANNE WAIRIMU
One hundred days into the Jubilee administration and First lady, Margaret Kenyatta is slowly coming out of her shell to catch up with her new role. From the very beginning, Margaret came out as a reserved, soft spoken and a shy personality but today, she is adapting to the publicity life and is fitting well in the shoes of her predecessor and First Lady Lucy Kibaki, who was initially very vocal until she went missing in action during Kibaki’s second term.
Margaret is gradually opening up and is not only accompanying her husband, but also at- tending and presiding over solo events. The First Lady has made her entry in style, winning the hearts of Kenyans with her eloquence and confidence. She made her maiden speech outside the country during the 12th meeting of Organisation of First Ladies Against HIV/Aids (OAFLA) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
She expressed her desire to use her position and influence in society to champion the rights of people living with HIV/Aids. Back home, she hosted her first public event, swapping her high heels for black rubber shoes commonly known as ‘ngomas’ before flagging off a fleet of vehicles full of similar shoes for distribution to millions of children countrywide as part of the campaign against jiggers.
Here, the First Lady emphasised that it is unnecessary for millions to be held hostage in their own homes and for children not to go to school because of the jigger menace. Margaret said that the fight against jiggers was very dear to her heart, having met many people affected by the menace.
The project by Ahadi Kenya Trust targets children from underprivileged regions and families in efforts to phase out jiggers. And there has been no turning back for the First Lady. She is also focused on social and rights issues such as health, education and environment.
For instance, late last month she launched the 8th National Free Fistula annual medical camp and awareness walk at the Kenyatta National Hospital. Emphasising that the fistula condition remained one of the gravest dehumanising con- ditions affecting women, the First Lady stressed the need to enhance the capacities of health systems to prevent, repair and support women with obstetric fistula.
She urged individuals and corporate institutions to support the treatment of women affected by fistula. And at the start of at the start of this year’s edition of the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology Annual Gender and Disability mainstreaming week, Margaret cautioned parents against hiding children with disabilities.
She said hiding persons with disabilities violates their rights, adding that discrimination on physical or mental ability, can impede efforts by the Government and non-government agencies from identifying and assisting them.
On matters of Environment, the President’s wife visited Karura forest where she inaugurated an educational auditorium meant to create awareness for environmental conservation efforts in the country.
In addition, she visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust to meet the baby elephants that have been orphaned as a result of the ongoing slaughter of elephants across Kenya, making her the first Kenyan leader to publically take personal interest in the crisis facing Kenya’s elephants. And it seems Margaret has quickly cultivated a cordial relationship with other First Ladies.
Last Month, she hosted her Nigerian counterpart, Patience Jonathan. Patience donated food to Daadab refugee camp. The two asked other African First Ladies to play the leading role in ending violence against women and children They said the only way to stabilise Africa is for all the First Ladies to preach peace in their countries.

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