Key note address by Hon. Dr. Naomi Shaban, EGH, MP, Minister For Gender, Children and Social Development during the official launch of the GOK-UN Joint Programme On Gender Equality And Women’s Empowerment (JP GEWE) at the Sarova New Stanley Hotel on 28th July 2011 at 10.00 am.

Mr. Joseph Kinyua Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance

Dr. Edward Sambili, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of State for National Planning and the Vision 2030

Mr. Aeneas Chama, UN Resident Coordinator,

Ambassadors and High Commissioners,

Representatives of UN Agencies,

Representatives from Government Ministries and Institutions,

Representatives of Civil Society Organizations,

Representatives from the Private Sector

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great pleasure to be with you during this important occasion of the launch of the Joint Programme on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (JP GEWE). This programme is an initiative of the Government of Kenya and the United Nations (Gok-UN). It involves partnership between the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, Ministry of Planning, National Development and Vision 2030, the Ministry of Finance    and the UN Agencies in Kenya.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The joint programme brings together fourteen (14) UN Agencies   working to support our national priorities in the area of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The programme is fully aligned to the priorities for advancement of women in Kenya, whose foundations are informed by the   following policy documents:-

• The Millennium Development Goals
• The Constitution of Kenya
• Kenya’s Development blue print- the Vision 2030 and its Medium Term Plan, (2008-2012)
• The National policy on Gender and Development of (2000), and Sessional Paper of 2006 on Gender Equality and Development,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The joint programme’s main is gender mainstreaming with a view to strengthening key national institutions to develop, monitor, and evaluate national development policies, legislations and plans from a gender perspective.

The Programme further seeks to support initiatives that aim at the reduction of gender based violence and advocate for equal participation for both men and women in decision making positions. In addition, it intends to enhance women economic status through access to financial services.

The launch of the JP GEWE therefore, is timely and will contribute significantly towards the implementation of the gender responsive programme as well as ensuring proper utilization of the resources.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The government has over the years made deliberate efforts towards addressing the special and unique needs of women to ensure that equity and equality in all spheres of development is realized and enhanced. These commitments have been demonstrated through enactment of, legislations, policies plans and programmes with a view of ensuring that the rights of women, men, girls and boys are protected as stipulated in the global regional and national instruments on gender equality.

The Constitution of Kenya which is under implementation is an important milestone towards the achievement of gender equality and women’s empowerment in the country.

Article 27 (3) of the Bill of Rights states that ‘’Women and men have the right to equal treatment including the right to equal opportunities in political, economic, cultural and social spheres” .

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The government has also espoused the affirmative action as a key strategy in ensuring women’s participation in the public service through the presidential directive of (2006) on 30% affirmative action policy in public sector recruitments, promotions and appointments.

More significantly, the Constitution has broadened this commitment and entrenched it into law as provided for in Article 27 clause (8) which states that, “the State shall take legislative and other measures to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender”. These are but only two of several articles within the Constitution that highlight the importance of gender equality in development processes.

The gender gains in the constitution provide strong opportunities and stimulus for the country particularly the institutions of governance to ensure that gender is mainstreamed in all institutions, mechanisms and practices of development and at all levels of government.

Distinguished Guests,

Kenya’s Vision 2030 is very clear that gender equity will be achieved by fundamental changes in four key areas namely opportunity, empowerment, capabilities and vulnerabilities. The Vision recognizes that women have been disempowered at the household, community and national levels. They are also under-represented in social and political life. The Medium Term Plan of the Vision which is being implemented has ensured that gender equality and improvement of the socio – economic well being of women is among the key result areas.

The establishment of Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) is one such example which is changing women’s lives by providing accessible and affordable credit to support women start and expand their businesses.  The fund is significant in addressing one of the challenges women face in entrepreneurship development.

In addition, the National Policy on Gender and Development 2000 is being reviewed in order to bring it into conformity with the Constitution and other emerging issues on gender. The review of the  policy will focus on specific thematic areas which include poverty and the economy, education, health, HIV and Aids, Gender based violence, Housing, vulnerable groups, land and agriculture, Environment and Climate Change, Power and decision making, Information and Communication Technologies(ICT), Human rights and Minority groups.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Despite all the progress made towards gender equality, we are still faced with many challenges based on deep rooted patterns of discrimination and inequalities in our society.

It is my hope that some of the activities that will be rolled out in this joint initiative will impact positively on the lives of women, men, girls and boys.

I am also confident that through our collaboration between the UN Agencies and the government, we will deliver on our commitments on gender equality and women’s empowerment to enable all the people of this country to participate and benefit equally in the development process. I wish to call upon other development partners and friends to participate in this noble initiative for greater achievements.

Distinguished Guests

I wish to conclude by thanking all those who have contributed to the successful hosting of this launch in one way or the other. I particularly thank the planning committee for a splendid job, the UN Women for their support as we endeavour to grant the women of Kenya their space in the socio-economic growth and political leadership.

It is my sincere hope that all stakeholders involved in the joint programme will embrace this initiative as we strive to create an enabling environment for gender equality and translating commitments into actions with concrete strategies to eliminate gender inequality.

With these remarks, Ladies and Gentlemen, I now wish to declare the Joint Programme on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment officially launched.

THANK YOU