Ivy Gathu

I am a human rights and development professional with over 5 year’s experience in advocacy and supporting the coordination and implementation of donor funded projects in human rights, governance and development in Kenya. I love penning down my thoughts on navigating the world as an African feminist on my Medium account (Ivy_Gathu).

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Chasing Waterfalls in Kiambu County

For those of you interested in chasing waterfalls, you need to prepare yourself to trek up and down some steep hills. I struggle when climbing hills, I have to constantly motivate myself by thinking of the reward at the top of the hill — scenic views, completing the hike or water break. Create your own reward system to keep yourself from giving up and remember, ‘ Slow and steady wins the race’ or… ….‘Mind over matter’, my mantra/driving force for this year. Pushing my personal growth beyond the
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The Future is Working from Home

2020 has been a heavy year for us in some sort of way; dealing with a pandemic, loss, grief etc. Unfortunately, 2021 will continue on the same note. The truth is that until our governments find effective ways to stop the spread of COVID-19 or distribute the vaccine for free or affordable ‘For All’, the virus will not disappear when we usher in the New Year in our homes. Therefore, we still need to continue taking safety precautions in the New Year. One safety precaution of COVID-19 — working fr
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24 Hours Without Men. I Am Going for a Walk.

Recently, I read a post that asked women what they would do if there were no men in the world for 24 hours. My answer was simple… Now, it’s not that I don’t walk. The issue is every time I walk my experience is made uncomfortable by a man catcalling me or saying/doing something inappropriate. Additionally, I have to be vigilant when walking to ensure that the street I am on has people, and when I notice I am alone I use shadows or my periphery vision to see if someone is following me. As much a
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How Not to Screw Up a Job Interview - From a Real Life Experience

Last week, I wrote about my journey in mastering rejection, which if you have not read can be found here. The ultimate test for this came in April, I had been job hunting for around 6 months in between getting some consultancy opportunities. During the months of March and April, I allocated more time to my job hunt; I revamped my resume and profile. I was sure this was the kick that would secure me a job and I knew exactly what I wanted in my next job; a good work environment, doing work I love,
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Gender Dynamics in Mining: Why women don’t go into mines

In this article, we’ll be looking into gender dynamics in the mining Sector based on our Extractives scoping study in various counties, we had the opportunity to meet with artisan miners and get to understand their cultural dynamics and ways of working. The gender dynamics in most of the areas were interesting to observe. In all mining areas, we found that mining work, in general, is gender-segregated – women will not go down a mine shaft to do the actual mining. In most areas, women are only l
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Long Live the Woman!

Growing up my icon was the late Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai, my mother can tell you how I wanted to be her. She embodied fierceness, firmness and resilience — words that I came to understand as I grew up. I also admired women who led and fueled revolutions from Mekatilili Wa Menza, Muthoni wa Kirima, Yaa Asantewaa and many more. This is because when I was growing up my role as a woman centred on being a caregiver, nurturer and giving my power to a man . Either my father or the hypothet
Medium •

Long Live the Woman!

Growing up my icon was the late Nobel Laureate Prof. Wangari Maathai, my mother can tell you how I wanted to be her. She embodied fierceness, firmness and resilience — words that I came to understand as I grew up. I also admired women who led and fueled revolutions from Mekatilili Wa Menza, Muthoni wa Kirima, Yaa Asantewaa and many more. This is because when I was growing up my role as a woman centred on being a caregiver, nurturer and giving my power to a man . Either my father or the hypothet
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The Future of Work

Reading the news on Oxfam International closing 18 country offices has left me shocked. I work for a non-profit and our ability to function is based on donors and fundraising. Oxfam closing some of its country offices indicates that fundraising during the COVID-19 period will be extremely difficult. Some non-profits may have to shut down because of the inability to fund raise, and some of their donors re-directing their funds to other initiatives. I cannot confidently say that I will have a job
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Chasing Waterfalls, an Oasis and Hot Springs in Tanzania

The year was 2018, and I was at my wit’s end career-wise because things were just not falling into place. I am sure we have all had this feeling — when you want something so bad but the thing does not want you. I needed a break from everything that was happening around me. Earlier in the year, my friend forwarded a Tanzania travel package that included visiting Kikuletwa Hot Springs. The plan did not pan out because my friend made other plans and honestly I was relieved because I was not workin
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The Power of Red Lipstick

The first time I saw a lady wearing red lipstick was when I was a little girl, I would marvel at how it brightened my mum lips. Therefore, whenever I would get the opportunity, I would put some on my lips. My mum would go nuts when she saw me because I was too young to wear lipstick. The only time I was allowed to have it on was when I was a flower girl in my aunties wedding or any other special occasions. Every time I had some red lipstick on, I felt untouchable, it gave me some sort of powers
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Let’s Talk About..…SEX

If you haven’t watched Season 2 of Sex Education, then you need to add it to your watch list. The TV show brilliantly captures the struggles young people go through during their sexual awakening, taking viewers through; puberty, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), fetishes, contraception methods, sexual orientations, consent, sexual harassment and overall the importance of sex education in school, Watching the show made me reflect on my journey on learning about sex, which I did with zero gui
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Mental Health Wellness While Working From Home During a Pandemic

On 7th July 2020, I held a virtual event on mental health wellness while working from home using Zoom, a video communicating platform which allows us to connect virtually. The purpose of the event was to provide a platform for participants to share their personal experiences while working from home during a pandemic and finding sustainable solutions to cope with our mental health during this period. The three sessions were led by our panellists; Loise Mboo, the Director of Programs, Adira, Denn
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A Period Should Not End a Girls Life

Another day in Kenya, where being a woman and girl in this country stirs so many emotions of sadness and anger. If women are not being raped, sexually harassed or killed, they are being shamed for having their periods. A 14-year-old girl from Bomet county got her period in school and as a result, she stained her school dress because she did not have any sanitary towels. The female class teacher who was meant to help the teenage girl during her time of need saw it fit to shame and punish the you
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OvaryAction: Menstrual Hygiene Day

The world will be celebrating Menstrual Hygiene/ Health Day (MHD) which occurs every year on 28th May. The day highlights; solutions to address the challenges women and girls face during their period cycle, the importance of good menstrual health management with the aim to benefit bleeding persons worldwide. MHD is significant to everyone in the world, including men. Menstruation has never been an easy discussion to have with family members or strangers because it is often associated with shame
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Maternal Health Care and COVID-19

Since the first case of CoronaVirus(COVID-19) was announced in Kenya, I have been reflecting on what expectant mothers were going through during this pandemic. Sheila who lives in Nairobi is 27 weeks pregnant. She has been riddled with a lot of anxiety and fear since the first case of COVID-19 was announced in the country. Her immunity is also low, which makes her a high risk of getting the virus. She has had racing thoughts about whether the country would go into total lockdown and how this wo
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Is There a Future for Women in Kenya

Yesterday, I read a post that unsettled my spirit, it read ‘Guys, what’s the worst thing a woman could do to make you end her life’. The post was uploaded by one of Kenya’s leading radio stations, Classic Fm. The statement comes when the recent surge of femicides in the country is still fresh on our minds. These acts have divided Kenyans online and offline between ‘she deserved to be killed’ and ‘she did not deserve to be killed’. The normalisation of violence against women in the country is qu
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REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM: UNCUFF OUR WOMBS

Women should have the right to be free to exercise their bodily autonomy and make their own decisions about their reproductive health. International news outlets and social media have been buzzing with the recent passing of the abortion law in the state of Alabama, America which bans abortions. This law was passed by 25 male senators. In my country Kenya, abortion is an extremely emotive issue and it is legal under certain circumstances, according to Article 26(4) of the Kenyan constitution un
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Violence on Women and Girls is Not Normal

25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) up to 10th December (Human Rights Day) are important days for the women and girls in the world, this is because of the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence. The campaign is important because it calls for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls. Growing up, I did not know the meaning of Gender-Based Violence(GBV), however, the women closest to me were facing it each day. I
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Why is The Speculum Still Being Used in 2019?

Last month, I decided to go in for a voluntary pelvic exam. Usually, when I go for this exam it is breast cancer awareness month and free screenings are being carried out which include pap smears. Now, I don’t know about the rest of you, but pelvic exams give me a lot of anxiety, so taking myself voluntarily was a big deal. This is because of a device called a speculum. The name and look of this device literally sends shivers down my spine. A pelvic exam cannot take place without the speculum,
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