ASSESSING GENDER POLICIES IN THE EAST AFRICAN REGION

TITLE  Assessing  Gender Policies in  the East  African  Region.
      EDITED  by Nena  Thundu, Annamarie.K. Kiaga. Suzan.W.Mwangi Omondi.
      Published  by  Development Policy Management  Forum.
      Reviewed  by  Francis  ilahaka.

Gender  is  becoming among  the critical issue  both  in  Africa  and  other  parts  of  the World  at  this  21 Century.
According  to  the research in  Country  is  the World can  develop  without  considering women  development and  contribution  in  the national  issue   starting  from  locational  level  to  the national  level
Back  home in  Kenya they  said when  you  educate  a girl  child  you  have educated  the  society  than  educating  a boy.
In  the  past   two weeks  our  members  of  parliament had  not  be able  to  pass the controversial  gender  bill  allowing more  women  in  parliament because  majority  of  them  don't  understand Gender  while  others  are   still  in  the dark  age
According  to  history  Kenya was among  the  Countries  in  Africa  to  consider  gender and  that  is  why  Mandeleo   ya  Wanawake  is  older  than  Kanu but  the problem  is  that  there  contribution both  in  politics  economical and  education were  never  taken  seriously
The book  under  review  Assessing  Gender Policies  in  the East  African  Region. Case  studies  from  Ethiopia,  Kenya,  Sudan,  Tanzania  and  Uganda is  a must  read because  it  is  example of  how  those  Countries   had  taken  Gender issues  critically.
The overall objective of  the Country studies is  to assist Africa  policy  makers development practitioners and  civil  society to  develop ability to conceptualize  gender roles and  relationship,  and  build  capacity to  formulate implement and  asses gender sensitive polices within a broader policy framework
The book  gives  details on  how  those  Countries had  taken   gender related  matters  seriously  at  there    respective  Countries  by  giving  women  chances  both  in  politics  and  at  other  high  position  in   government
 According  to  the book which Kenyan  parliamentarian  should read cultural  and  traditional issues  are  among the issues facing  African  leaders  when dealing  with Gender related  issues. but  they  must  except   the  realities  because of  changes  in  human  life.
 For  those  who    had been  reading newspapers  Kenyans  risk  paying  high   in  form  of  tax  if  gender bill  is  not passed,  not  only  that  donor  Countries  wants more  women  in  parliament  per  constitution  passed three  years  back
 Very  interesting  in  the book  which  is  very  useful   at  this  critical  time Kenyan is   among  the first  Countries  in  Africa to  allow  women  to  hold  top  post  in  government eg both  Grace  Onyango  and  Ogoto respectively.
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