Maendeleo ya Wanawake launches Maendeleo ya Wanaume at the 70th anniversary

 

Maendeleo ya Wanawake has started Maendeleo ya Wanaume, a male empowerment campaign in five central Kenya counties to combat rampant drunkenness, which has been connected to high levels of gender-based violence against women and the deaths of young prospective leaders during election cycles.

Male Champions Initiative will be implemented in Kiambu, Nyeri, Murang'a, Nyandarua, and Kirinyaga counties, to rebuild the boy child to restore the man to his managerial role in the home.

Rahab Muiu, the organization's national chairperson, claimed that drunkenness has left most young and prospective leaders weak, making them responsible for their older parents.

"This alcoholism menace has robbed us of our sons at a very young age; it has also denied them the chance of enjoying fatherhood and companionship because they cannot sustain marriages," Muiu said at Mount Kenya University in Thika during the organization's second nationwide 70th anniversary celebrations.

Muiu stated that the group would no longer watch as parents of young men are forced to care for their elderly children who should be caring for them and that the new project will take a fresh approach to rehabilitate males in the region as responsible family leaders.

"We want to announce and vow here in central Kenya that we, as moms and family caretakers, will not condemn or desert our sons; instead, we will walk beside them to help them conquer this beast called alcoholism," Muiu stated.

The announcement was made in front of Kiambu County Governor James Nyoro, Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia, Nyeri County Deputy Governor Dr Caroline Karugu, Muranga Women Representative Chege Sabina Wanjiru, and Kirinyaga Women Representative Purity Ngirici, who were all in attendance.

The National government was represented by Dr. (Eng.) Karanja Kibicho, Principal Secretary, State Department of Interior and Citizen Services, Ministry of Interior and Coordination of the National Government, and Dr Nicholas Muraguri, Principal Secretary, Ministry of Lands and Physical Planning.