Kenyan nun calls on leaders to do more to empower women

A Kenyan nun has commended the role of the Church in uplifting the lives of women in society. But she has said that the Church and government need to to intensify their efforts towards empowering women. Addressing a meeting, organized by the Association of Sisterhoods of Kenya, AOSK here on March 8 to mark International Women's Day, Sr Dr Marie Therese Gacambi, Mother General of the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi, said it was disheartening to note that women continued being relegated economically, while they played such a central role in family and nation-building. "Both the Church and the Government should feel obliged to empower women in all aspects", she said. The theme of the meeting was: Peace and Reconciliation Ritual. In her key note speech, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Professor , Mathaai said: "today is a very special day for Kenyan women to come together and reflect. As women we have a very heavy responsibility of taking messages to grassroots level, to preach healing and create a peaceful country for our children." She added that Kenyans should embrace its diversity and see themselves as micro-nations, while appealing to all Kenyans to live in peace, nurture development, seek justice, truth and reconciliation so that they do not rise up and kill each other again.