Kenyan Government Committed to Gender Equality and Women Empowerment

NAIROBI – Aisha Jumwa, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, The Arts, and Heritage, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. She emphasized the significant strides made in developing and implementing gender laws and frameworks for women’s peace and security.

According to Kenya News Agency, speaking at the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Ministerial Meeting, Jumwa highlighted the implementation of the Kenya National Action Plan (KNAP) on women, peace, and security. The plan aims to ensure the inclusion and recognition of women in peace processes. The meeting, held at the Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa, saw delegates from the region convene to adopt the IGAD regional action plan for Women, Peace, and Security.

“Women play a critical role in conflict prevention, reconstruction, and peacebuilding,” Jumwa stated. She added that gender equality and women’s empowerment are crucial for sustainable peace and development, though challenges such as violence against women, unequal access to resources, and underrepresentation in decision-making persist.

Jumwa expressed optimism about achieving shared objectives with other member states in addressing common challenges. Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, Executive Secretary of IGAD, pledged continued support for peace, prosperity, and regional integration, praising member states for domesticating global, continental, and regional instruments.

The event marked the beginning of Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu’s second term as the Executive Secretary of IGAD and the launch of the IGAD Regional Gender Strategy and Regional Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security.