Who we are
DadaPower is a women-led, affirmative action community initiative which was founded to promote and enhance women’s rights through Education and Economic empowerment. We strongly believe that every woman is entitled to a dignified life that is characterized by sufficient access to development opportunities.
“Dada” means sister, but also denotes “lady” among Kenyans. Dadapower therefore means ladies of power. The title is inspired by the need to bring out the power within every woman to have and express her voice, to access and defend her education, to pursue her dreams and to engage equally with men in society.
We believe in women empowerment as a tool for social accountability, sustainable families, productive businesses and safe communities. Our work is therefore to promote and enhance women’s Education in Academics, politics and leadership and income generating ventures; and to ensure their active and meaningful engagement in policy formulation and implementation.
Background
Kenya’s population is currently approximated at 48 million, 51% been women. In the 2017 elections, women made up 47% of the registered voters. While the country takes pride in now having 3 Governors and 3 Senators elected in the 2017 elections, gender inequality is a major challenge in achieving women’s rights and progress in Kenya. Across the world, Government interventions are informed by policy, whose agenda is set by those involved in the process. The lack of adequate women’s participation and representation in key policy and decision making processes leads to development projects and programmes that lack inclusivity.
Rationale
In Education, the same pattern of gender inequality is evident. School going girls stand a higher risk of not completing basic education than boys. Patriarchy, teenage pregnancies and a prevalent rape culture are major crises in the sector. Approximately 378,400 girls in Kenya aged between 10 and 19 years became pregnant between July 2016 and June 2017 (United Nations Population Fund – UNFPA). The Economic Survey of 2018 indicated a total of 7,434 cases that were reported to the police. In addition, culture and traditions have not aided in solving the challenge. Instead, they continue to drive inequality among Kenya’s communities owing to a history of patriarchy. In many poor families in the rural areas, young girls are still compelled to get married while the boys go to school. It is assumed that this is a reasonable way to save on family resources. Yet research has shown that educating girls is directly proportional to the development of communities since they seem to go back home and pay it forward.
It is with this background that DadaPower was initiated.
Team
Dadapower Team
Stella Nderitu
Chairperson
Edith Macharia
Vice Chairperson
Catherine Gathuru
Treasurer
William Wanjohi
Organizing Secretary