Reflection: Where is the place of women?

‘Mother Earth’

Mother Earth. Many times, I find myself pondering the meaning of this term. The Google definition of Mother Earth states: “the earth considered as a source of all its living beings and natural features.”

That is a good description. It sounds accurate to me. But why call it Mother, not a brother or uncle or any other familial name? Is it because mothers and, by extension, the female sex act as couriers to all human and animal life delivered on earth? Is it because motherhood and nature are associated with nurturing, weaning, and providing necessary conditions to sustain life? Is it because the earth is one big round womb like the expectant belly of a pregnant mother? Or it could be because the entire global land mass rests on the earth. The earth is responsible for the planting, germinating, sprouting, feeding, and survival of all living beings, just as mothers are responsible for babies once the seed of life takes root in their stomachs through conception.

The greatest irony I’d like to discuss lies in the term’ Mother Earth.’ A figurative woman (Mother Earth) is known to be the proprietor of every parcel of land known to exist on this planet. Yet, on the other hand, women worldwide, particularly those in Kenya, own so little of it. Why would you carry a name you don’t own?

Perhaps, it is in this huge disconnect between being very similar to nature and owning a dismal size of it that my constant confusion falls. How are we supposed to bring up the next generation if our stake in the world we inhabit is negligible?

According to the Kenya Land Alliance, only 10% of women in Kenya own land, even though women form more than half of the population. Jokes truly write themselves.

I found my calling in this sense of injustice and disenchantment. Living and working intentionally to empower my ilk has always been my life’s purpose.

The arc of fate would also bend my career toward real estate. I proudly serve as a Head of Marketing and Digital at Finsco Africa – a land, property, and home ownership firm. I’m also part of the 50% of women who form the workforce. 

At Finsco Africa, we prefer to put our money where our mouth is, and we are on the front foot in tackling meagre home ownership and landlessness among women. For one, Finsco Africa was a substantive contributor to the National Framework of the Affordable Housing Program in partnership with the Ministry of Housing. As certified realtors, we have a moral duty to share our expertise with the government. Hopefully, assisting the government in making informed resolutions to avert the current situation. 

At the policy level, Finsco Africa has made it a matter of principle to design products tailor-made for women, thus incentivising them to invest. We also prioritise facilitating forums and clinics for women to access funding and information to own assets in real estate through Finsco Africa. Charity begins at home. We walk the talk. Aside from women making up half of our manpower, our board is also squarely represented by both men and women. Three male directors and three female directors equally balance the scales of power. Denoting the importance of ensuring women have boardroom seats and pivotal decision-making tables. 

The world may be awash with retrogressive practices in real estate, but Finsco Africa is a forward-thinking company. We may not change the world, but we can surely make a corner of it nice – our corner. 

Much as my employer may be progressive regarding women as first-class citizens, Kenya at large leaves much to be desired. There is still room for more representation of women in the public and private sectors. If this is done, women will be better placed to take part in more land acquisition and property ownership conversations. But systemic bottlenecks, cultural stereotypes, and general lethargy in goodwill have exacerbated this predicament further.

I strongly believe in the Latin slogan; “There is nothing about us without us.”

Growing up, I witnessed firsthand the power of ant-like solidarity. While my father waited for the fat cheque or the big payday to purchase something, my mother incessantly saved up with one Chama after another. Every chama had a saving purpose. Cutlery, furniture, church, school fees, clothes, community land, you name it. My mother’s income was modest, but we also didn’t lack anything.

She also unconsciously taught me the importance of micro-finance, frugality, and sustainable investment. My mother taught me that to dream big, you have to start small—lessons I carry to work on a daily in my lunchbox.

It is possible to scale these profound habits to grander heights. Particularly when it comes to forming impactful partnerships with women for women to acquire more room on “Mother Earth.”

Innovative investment vehicles such as SACCOs, progressive legislation such as the Law of Succession Act, political goodwill, and a multisectoral approach will form a concerted solution to this issue.

It can be done; it has been and will be done again. Millions of other Kenyan women bear similar aspirations, and I can keep drawing inspiration from my mother’s small but persistent attempts. For isn’t Mother Earth that transforms a tiny mustard seed into a gigantic tree?

Ms. Lydia Mwangi is a polymath, having garnered knowledge in various fields. She holds an entrepreneurship and communications certification from the European Business University of Luxembourg. She has also attained a Higher Diploma in Business Administration and a Diploma in Computer Science. The most recent arrow added to her education quiver – is an accreditation on Strategic Planning from David Owusu Ministries.