The Editing of the Cultural Script in Self-Actualisation: A Case of Two Female Luo Leaders

Abstract

This work attempts to understand the development of two female political lead- ers in a seemingly hostile context. A melange of cultural theory (in the form of the axiological principles of Luo traditional culture, of complementarity, symmetry and integration) with script theory (Dudley's Paradigm Shift Process) has given insight into the reality of these two leaders, lives. A set of different newspapers reporting on the two leaders, careers were given a thematic content analysis. This enhanced the analysis of data used in Dudley's Paradigm Shift process. One leader was interviewed using the unstructured interview method. Interviews of some constituents from both leaders' communities were also conducted. No study of this kind has been done, that is, one utilising the theoretical frame- work used in this study. The results of this study are a clarion call for society and the structures of power in Kenya society to attend to the pleas of women to allow them into the mainstream of society. The results reveal that it is imperative for the individual woman to take the responsibility of elevating her lot, both as an individual and collectively. The results, in addition, highlight the duty of parents and educators to create a condu- cive environment for growth of the girl-child. This research is also an attempt to look for solutions within the African setting as opposed to importing concepts and problem-solving mechanism from the west, wholesale. Further research utilising the theoretical framework, in different com- munities, is recommended in order to refine it.