Lysistrata Kenya: Sex Strike by Women Includes PM Wife Ida Odinga

The women of this country are frustrated and most perturbed by the feuds, turns and twists of the coalition government, and particularly the lack of political leadership by its two principals - the president and the prime minister - who have continuously shown the Kenyan people the contempt card. This is demonstrated by their apparent lack of goodwill and commitment to the implementation of the National Accord, culminating in the current impasse in parliament over the leadership of the House Business Committee. While the speaker of the National Assembly effectively temporarily postponed the near constitutional crisis in his decision yesterday, he yet again missed the opportunity to show political leadership and instead chose to run away from his mandate by making a 'safe' decision at a time when the country needs tough, decisive action to move it forward on its reform agenda. The decision by the speaker undermines once more the spirit of the National Accord and instead played towards the gallery of those opposed to the common public good and safety and security of the nation.

This country cannot continue to hang on the brink of paralysis, uncertainty, indecisiveness, bad leadership and decisions conceived to preserve an insecure presidency instead of upholding the safety and security of a whole nation. The women of this country will not tolerate and or allow its political leadership to lead it back onto a slippery journey to the country's deathbed, violence and absolute chaos! This is a journey oblivious to the realities of the nation at a time when Kenya is under attack from pirates in the east, the greedy and unabashed ambition of our neighbours in the west, Mungiki in the interior, and is faced with the hunger and disease of millions of its citizens and the general hopelessness of the rest of the country. Kenyans understand that the paralysis the nation is suffering through these gaffes and feuds will only guarantee renewed instability, violence, desperation and despair.

To the G10 and the women of Kenya, the above and following are early warning signs of a failed state and the imminent collapse of the grand coalition. The poor and woolly political leadership of the executive has led to:

- Bickering, feuds and uncertainty in the grand coalition government

- The brutal attacks and hacking to death of over 30 Kenyans in Karatina

- The elusive fundamental and stalled reforms under Agenda No. 4 and the lack of commitment towards the implementation of the National Accord and the Reconciliation Act

- The lack of an accountability mechanism to hold to account those implicated in the post-election violence, despite the fact that women suffered most through the sexual violence meted against them, among other ills through displacement and death

- Kenyans' considerable hunger, poverty, insecurity and continued desperation

- The controversy around Migingo Island, a controversy that touches on the sovereignty, space and impotence of the government in handling the issue.

Ten non-governmental organisations urged women across the nation to boycott sex with their husbands and partners along with a statement calling for reforms in government and action on promoting women's rights.

Rukia Subow, chairwoman of the Women's Development Organisation, said the group believed the boycott would persuade men to press the government to make peace.

"This is a national boycott to show that the women of this country have resolved to push for reforms," she said. "We want an urgent solution to the political problems facing this country."

The group would pay prostitutes so they would participate in the strike, Subow sai