Annual Women's Rights Convention - CRAWN Trust 23RD AND 24TH AUGUST 2023
ANNUAL WOMEN’S RIGHTS CONVENTION
Kenya has made significant progress in closing the gender gap ranking 77 out of the 146 countries studied according to the Global Gender Gap Index 2023. Despite this progress the women movements that made significant contribution to the 2010 constitution including the two-thirds gender principle have slowed the pace in implementation of the gains. Cabinet Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action Aisha Jumwa said during the Annual Women’s Rights Convention 2023 at Panari Hotel.
The progress in leadership and inclusive governance is evident in the increase in the number of elected female leaders in the country: 29 MPs up from 23, seven (7) Governors up from three (3) and 115 up from 97 in the County Assembly. “For women to fully enjoy their constitutional rights and achieve gender equality in Kenya, they must build back strong movements and challenge the power relationships, status quo and lived traditions” Hon Aisha Jumwa noted in her remarks as she officially opened the third Annual Women’s Rights Convention.
The two-day event that began today August 23, 2023 at the Panari Hotel seeks to address gaps that hinder women from exercising their rights despite the entrenchment of these rights in the constitution. These barriers are an impediment to economic development of the women, thus curtailing women’s economic empowerment and gender equality. The convention brought together high raking government officials, policy makers, civil society, women leaders, rights organizations, academia, development partners and the private sector to dialogue and identify strategies that ensure inclusivity in governance and consequently equality and women empowerment in Kenya.
During the event the Cabinet Secretary, Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action Hon. Aisha Jumwa observed that while the government had the goodwill the women’s movement that pushed the two-thirds gender principle had lost momentum. “President Ruto’s government has set a nine-point women agenda to address among other critical issues: women’s land rights and women economic empowerment” She added that the development of the nine-point women agenda is a clear indication of the goodwill by the topmost government, hence it is incumbent upon women to take initiative to mentor, sensitize fellow women in order to have more women in leadership positions.
Political participation of women in leadership emerged as a critical catalyst to inclusive governance, bringing into sharp focus the two-thirds gender principle. During the meeting, the UoN WEE Hub hosted a panel discussion on the two-thirds gender principle in elective and appointive offices that was led by former Deputy Chief Justice Dr. Nancy Baraza. She presented a paper on the topic of discussion and identified the two-thirds gender rule as the greatest gain for women in the Constitution of Kenya 2010. While making her presentation, the former CJ reiterated assertions made by Ms Anne Nderitu from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties that there has been an increase in the number of women vying for political positions from 1300 women in 2013 to 1959 in the 2022 elections. She however warned that while the increase seemed significant, the numbers of women elected in leadership positions were still very low compared to the number of elective positions available in Kenya “The increase notwithstanding, we need to go beyond looking at the numbers and move to analyzing the quality of decisions that are made in parliament”
The event was attended by women politicians under the Kenya Women Parliamentarians Association (KEWOPA) led by Hon. Beatrice Elachi, Ms, Esther Passaris, Dr. Joyce Osogo, De, Lillian Gogo, as well as the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu. Also in attendance was the University of Nairobi WEE Hub leader Prof. Wanjiku Kabira, Dr. Mary Mbithi, UoN WEE Hub Director of Research and other WEE Hub researchers. The development partners who attended re-affirmed their commitment to support the initiatives towards women’s economic empowerment and gender equality. The participants underscored the need for women to have a unified voice and concerted efforts to enjoy the benefits of the constitutional provisions fully.