People's Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua made a passionate case for the need for women's empowerment forums during her address at the What Women Want Summit held at the Trademark Hotel in Nairobi.

The summit, founded by Pinky Ghelani, marked its third edition this year, bringing together influential women from various sectors for three days of empowerment, networking, and dialogue.

The highly anticipated event kicked off on Friday, March 21, with a colourful gala dinner officiated by Suba North MP Millie Odhiambo.

Over the three days, participants engaged in discussions, workshops, and networking sessions centred around advancing women's rights, leadership, and societal impact.

As the summit concluded on Sunday, March 23, Karua took the stage to emphasise the need to view women's empowerment as a fundamental right, not a threat to the boy child or male counterparts.

"We want our humanity acknowledged not as an afterthought but as a right. We are not here by accident. We deserve just as much as our brothers. And remember, we are the mothers of those brothers and even the chest-thumping MPs. We are the mothers of the greatest irrespective of their gender. Therefore, we matter, and that means we are great too," she declared.

Karua urged society to break away from the notion that empowering women takes away from men, emphasising that equality benefits everyone.

Karua also tackled the controversial stereotype that women are often their own worst enemies.

She acknowledged that, just like men, there are women who may discourage or undermine others.

However, she argued that this should not overshadow the numerous women who uplift and support one another.

"There are women who discourage and hurt fellow women. If a woman is known to put down another woman, they need to be called out. Even if they deny it, it will make them speak. Likewise, those women who help other women need to be celebrated to encourage others.

I know this from my experience in my first campaign. The insults that were heaped on me were by men. Women acted as surrogates. ‘Women are their worst enemies’ is a narrative. There would be bad men and bad women. So, let's call out the bad ones and celebrate the good ones," she asserted.

Karua stressed that women, being the largest demographic in the country, have the power to drive significant societal change.

"All these elected leaders are women representatives because 51% of voters are women. Even William Ruto is a woman representative," she said.

She encouraged women to unite, support each other, and take on leadership roles to advocate for policies that prioritise gender equality.

In a bold move that left attendees in awe, Karua declared her presidential bid.

Speaking to , the summit founder, Pinky Ghelani, revealed that the event had attracted over 3,000 women, the highest turnout since its inception.

She expressed her excitement at the growing impact of the summit and its role in shaping conversations about women's empowerment.

Ghelani also addressed the pressing issue of femicide in Kenya, highlighting the need for a more proactive approach to curb gender-based violence.

"We have done so little. Femicide is not a new thing, it has been there. What we should do to end it is have these conversations in schools and at home. Let's talk to our boys and tell them that young girls are not punching bags, no matter how aggrieved they may feel," she urged.

According to Millie Odhiambo, women want tall, dark, and handsome men.

The playful confession she made during the Friday night gala dinner.

However, beyond the lighthearted remark, Millie also shared insights about her career journey, highlighting her experiences at the Attorney General's Office and her work with FIDA (Federation of Women Lawyers).

Source: TUKO.co.ke