African Woman and Child Feature Service

It was really a shock to see a morning news bulletin that was discussing the issue of debt within the USA and how the country’s political leadership is handling the situation.

This was a grave matter and definitely an issue of concern among Americans in the face of a rising cost of living.

According to the newscaster, the debt in the US was approaching its highest level ever since World War one. And Americans are indeed worried.

However, for me, as Kenyan journalist, being in Washington DC at this time, courtesy of Communications Consortium Media Centre, it was interesting to see the way the news was being handled.

This was a topic that took priority among the media stations. However, watching the way CNN presented this article was very interesting. The morning newscaster was a woman but she also had two women commenting on the issue.

For me this was a fresh breath of air. I am used to situations where women are only approached by media when it is in relation to women matters that are not of national importance. Women commentators are called upon when it is in relation to children and not significant nationally.

In Kenya, and Nairobi specifically women are never the first choice to comment on political issues. Newsrooms have not gone out of their way to look for women who can comment of political situations. A debt situation looks at economics and politics of a country. In this case, and I am sure most journalists would agree with me, nobody would have thought of picking the brains of female journalists and commentators or contributors.

The fact that these two women keenly commented on the debt situation in America, and linking it to President Obama’s recent speech where he showed his support for same sex relationships, interrogating the country’s economic situation from a female perspective would give the right picture of what the country needs.

Perhaps this is what we need more in Kenya, to have more women commenting on national issues and not just issues that affect them as women.

When the new Constitution speaks of not having more than two thirds of the same gender in public offices, the strategy should be taken to the next level where when issues of national importance are being addressed in the media, gender balance should be attributed to the voices. In this case not more than two thirds of the same gender should contribute and comment on issues of national importance.

Having women’s voices in argument would then allow it to have a holistic approach and allow for a more analytical approach.