Strength of a woman

Mjue mwanasoka wa KNHFC

By Yvonne Gichuru, Winfred Gumbo & Moses Njomo

Imagine a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination. A world that’s diverse, equitable, and inclusive.

A world where difference is valued and celebrated. Together and collectively we can forge women’s equality by raising awareness about discrimination, and taking action to drive gender parity and inclusion.

International Women’s Day, marked annually on 8th March is a day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women globally.

The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women’s equality.

I started working at KNH in 2020. My responsibilities include getting transport requests and assigning different drivers based on specific tasks. I also write reports about the vehicles; the fuel consumption and the spare parts required.

The KNH transport sector is mainly male-dominated as it is the norm in society for male individuals to work in such areas but this has not stopped me.

When I reported for the first time, I felt like I was not supposed to be there. It gave me chills! “Is there a way I am supposed to dress when I am surrounded

This year’s theme for International Women’s day is #EmbraceEquity.

Newsline interviewed some of the women in KNH who go beyond limits through their various roles in the Hospital hence making it a better place.

Read on ...

Agatha Binyanya Mecha - Clerical Officer, Transport Section; Administration, Welfare & Housing department

The KNH transport sector is mainly male-dominated as it is the norm in society for male individuals to work in such areas but this has not stopped me.

When I reported for the first time, I felt like I was not supposed to be there. It gave me chills! “Is there a way I am supposed to dress when I am surrounded by men?, how should I talk to them?” I asked myself all these questions and they later turned out to be a non-issue, because the environment where I work is very accommodating. They tend to now see me as a flower. I am always smiling and I talk to everyone and this has helped me work.

I think the bias has reduced over the years. This is because there are grounds where women were not fit to be there but nowadays it has become easier- I think because of women’s empowerment. Women are showing up, they are more confident. They tend to now fit in. Women have started getting incorporated into most tasks that were initially set aside for men.

I have been accommodated in the department. When the work environment is not conducive, we talk to the bosses and the issue is addressed. Communication makes our work and relationships easier.

At first, I felt like it was overwhelming since we worked even during the weekends but I love what I do. This makes me stay focused. I do not have to be forced to do what I am required to do.

Being a woman entails a lot, especially because women are natural caregivers; it is an inherent trait. It means being able to nurture and bring out the best in them.

To be able to be felt deeply and understood by others and also to explore fashion.

I am a free-spirited being despite the challenges I faced in my early stages of life. I lost my mom when I was 6 years but that has not put me down. When you lose a mother, most people get depressed, they do not get to be themselves because they do not have a person to rely on. I know God has His reasons as to why that had to happen. I thank God for that. Equity is getting an equal opportunity for both the boy and the girl child. As far as equity is concerned, it has led to the rise of women in higher ladders of leadership.

As much as women are caregivers, going to work and taking care of the home, equity has established a better community.

Women have to push themselves to be equal to men, but we can never be equal. We are fighting to show that in as much as we are not equal, we can still do it.

My hobbies include music, traveling, and reading novels I am also a biker. I believe God allows you to do what you love. When I started here, I did not know I would be pushed to the transport section where I get to see manual cars, get to try manual transmissions, etc.

Motorbikes have been something I have loved since I was young. I love to see how the bikes veer off. I believe that one day I will own one and explore that mission.

International Women’s Day is a great day to embrace women and bring out the best in them. Women are here to be heard and the world has so much in store for them.

As a young woman, I trust that the opportunity KNH has given me is going to mentor me to become greater in the future. This is just the beginning as I have seen so many women strive and I look up to them.

To other women in KNH, I urge you to take the opportunity the Hospital gives you to make yourself a better person. Follow your purpose and do not get tired of searching for it.

Christine Juma - Farewell Home Attendant

I have worked at KNH for 2yrs. First of all, I thank God for creating me a woman. Working at the Farewell Home is not an easy job for women, this makes me special. I am a mother to a boy so I feel so honored to take care of him. I balance both work and parental duties and this makes me special.

My biggest achievement is reaching 31 years, being a mother, and also being employed as many people do not have jobs currently.

One of the main challenge I face is being asked why I do what is considered a man’s job in society. Women are special because they are compassionate. I work with men who have embraced me as one of their own. We do similar jobs, and despite the challenges I faced in the beginning, the men embraced me to do the same job as them.

They embraced me in handling procedures such as postmortem which is quite complex. We are living in a society where we should prioritize equity.

I was driven by a very personal reason to change the norm that what I do is mainly meant for men. I have passion for this work and I want to make other ladies out there know that as a woman you can do the same work as me.

Also taking care of both the dead and the bereaved has been the biggest motivator for me. I lost my sister and when she was brought home for burial, she was not as presentable in death as I expected her to be, I always take care of the dead as I would have liked my sister to be taken care of. I wish I could be there for my sister when she died in 2009. I would like to tell other women to look at themselves as important people in society and not let anything stop them from doing whatever they set to do. They should go for what they want and follow their dreams as nothing is impossible. They can do what men can do.

Rachel Wamaitha Waweru, Painter- Facilities and Services department

I have worked at KNH for the last 24 years whereby I was first deployed at the Farewell Home. I then moved to the clinics and wards. I, later on, worked at Kenyatta Prime Care Centre (KPCC) for seven (7) years before I went to maintenance in November last year. I am currently at the staff clinic on behalf of a colleague who is currently away from duty.

Being a woman has helped me my entire lifetime. I have taken my children to school and fed them. To date, I am taking my grandchildren to school because of the same job.

I have been able to enjoy my work despite working with a lot of men. It is my daily bread. I am also a mother of two boys.

What makes women special is their ability to go out there and do any job. It gives them courage. Some of the challenges I face as a woman at work include climbing the ladders or their unavailability. I have however done it despite all. Also, the paint is normally very strong, however, the management provides us with milk to drink after work daily. The hospital further looks after our health whenever we fall sick.

I also enjoy cleaning my house and painting it while not at work. I am passionate about painting, going to church, and reading the Bible. Equity to me means helping each other with what we have so that we are equitable. I appreciate the equity the men in my department have embraced me with by helping me out with some challenging tasks.

I would like to encourage other female KNH staff to not despise their jobs; be it carpentry, masonry, or construction, just do it with joy since this will bring a lot of positive results. There is no particular work designated for women. All a man can do a woman can do. Lastly, they should be aggressive and not only wait for employment.

Eunice Amondi- Senior Office Assistant, Administration, Welfare and Housing department

I have worked at KNH for 12 years where I started as a support staff. What I love most about being a woman is the fact that I am married with 3 kids. I love raising my children and taking care of my family. Aside from work, I enjoy traveling. I am a choir member at St. Luke’s Church.

I also love being a role model at my work. I think what makes me special as a woman can be seen through my actions; how I treat and interact with people in a patient and understanding way. The way you carry yourself and the ability to give birth and raise children and nurture a family, in general, is what makes other women special too.

I believe I am dedicated to the work I do as I always strive to reach my targets. This will help me to also grow to a higher position.

I would like to tell other women that if you are lucky to get a job in whichever rank, you should be grateful. Let us all take care of our jobs and go out of our way to do what is required of us.

Connie Munyiva Mutua - Patient Porter, Accident & Emergency (A&E) department

I have been working at KNH for the last 8 years. I am a trained Nurse Aid by profession. I am someone technical, flexible, and creative at the same time.

I am a young mother to a teenage boy. I thank God for having given me the grace to do so. Bringing him up is my biggest achievement so far. I am a social person so I like being around fellow young women; mentoring and nurturing them in their daily life activities and challenges. I present myself well at work around my colleagues and family and this too is an achievement for me.

The experience has not been easy but through God’s grace, I have managed to handle it. A&E is the face of the hospital and as a Patient Porter, one sees a lot based on the cases handled by the department. Most people tend to undermine Patient Porters, at first I underwent a lot of challenges but with time it has gotten better.

I also like listening to loud and booming R&B music and swimming.

What makes women special is their ability to multitask; a woman can be going through so much but they can do a lot at once. They plan themselves well to achieve these. Giving birth to a new life also makes them special and even being called mothers makes them special. Many women are also excellent communicators and the ability to express themselves well makes them overcome a lot of challenges.

Embracing equity to me means women will hold each other in fairness and impartiality. We should embrace and hold ourselves responsible for the activities expected of us.

I encourage other women to be each other’s keepers and embrace equity in togetherness. We need to appreciate our uniqueness in body features and present ourselves responsibly.

Vivian Atieno Chepkosgei - Cook, Senior Staff Canteen

I have been at KNH for about 2 years. At the moment I am based in the hot kitchen - cooking hot dishes. Here mostly, the men do the grilling but given a chance I can also do it. I love what I do and in another life, I would still do this.

Aside from being a cook, I am also passionate about singing, I conduct the youth choir at our local church. I wear many hats. I believe we should use our God-given talents and multiply them.

With the teamwork from my colleagues, things have been good, I have been able to share my experience from where I came from which was in a hotel setup, which is quite different from a hospital setup.

What I love most about being a woman is the ability to multitask both at work and at home. As a working woman, I can comfortably provide for my family.

I think what makes women special is the ability to be patient and persevere through hardships. This is a God-given ability. What a man can do a woman can do better; if women are challenged to do tasks that according to society are meant for men, we can do it too –even better.

My message to other women as we celebrate International Women’s day is that we should work hard, embrace and help each other. Let us not pull each other down, let us work together and through this I know we can achieve so many things together. We can be able to go to greater heights, and given a chance, we can even go further. We are superwomen!