Minister for Gender, Children and Social Development, during this year’s celebration to mark International Women’s Day Celebrations on 8th March 2010.

On behalf of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development, the women of Kenya and on my own behalf, I wish to congratulate all the women during this auspicious occasion marking this year’s International Women’s Day.
The theme for this year’s celebrations, ” Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All”, could not have come at a more opportune time, than now when women issues are top in the international agendas.
In respect to the theme, the government has embraced various initiatives to address equality concerns which will ultimately ensure that the women of Kenya achieve their rightful positions in policy making echelons. These initiatives have been demonstrated by a shift from addressing women issues in isolation to adopting a comprehensive approach on gender mainstreaming and development.
This is therefore, a special day that provides an opportunity for all women of the world to review the progress made in their struggle for equality, peace and development. It is an opportunity to unite, network and mobilize women’s efforts for meaningful change. For the women of Kenya, it is a special moment to reflect on the progress made in terms of government policy on promoting gender issues.
As an international event to highlight the success and plights of women globally, Kenya has not been left behind; a national event to launch this year’s International Women’s Day was organized at the Kabarnet Museums-Baringo District on 1st March 2010, to kick-off weeklong activities in all the districts culminating in the International Women’s Day that we are celebrating in Mombasa today.
These activities presented forums for women to showcase their potential and advocate gender responsive policies and programmes that will promote gender equality, equal rights and opportunities, and hence economic empowerment for the women.
Since independence, the government has demonstrated concerns for the welfare and special needs for both men and women due to their socio-economic and political contributions towards national development. In addition the government is committed to ensure equal rights and opportunities for men and women for greater progress.
It is for this reason that government has provided a conducive and sustainable environment for equal rights and opportunities, so that the country’s development blue print, the Vision 2030 can achieve its goal of creating a globally competitive and prosperous country with a high quality of life by 2030.
In light of the above, the government has also put in place policy initiatives, programmes and legislation to improve the socio-economic status of women to enhance their participation in national development. For instance, the National Policy on Gender and Development recognizes the need for women, men, girls and boys to access equal opportunities.
The Policy asserts the need to focus on empowerment strategies that not only demonstrate understanding of essential linkages between the productive and reproductive roles of women, but also recognizes the need to adopt equality as a goal and its achievement through the removal of any existing disparities between men and women.
Kenya has established a national machinery to support gender mainstreaming in the public sector and at all levels. This will enable the general populace to understand the roles of men and women, their impact and the complementary roles they play in the development processes.
Following the Presidential directive on 30% affirmative action on all recruitment, appointment and promotion, the public service has not fully complied with this directive.  In the current Parliament, out of a total of 222 members of Parliament only 22 are women. In regard, l wish to appeal to the public sector to comply with this directive to ensure gender equality at all levels.
In Kenya, Female Genital Mutilation/ Cutting (FGM/C), is recognize as national issues and a violation of the basic rights of women and girls; only five communities out of 43 do not practice FGM/C. As signatory to various international conventions, treaties and declarations, the government is duty bound to ensure the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls by putting policy measures in place to reduce the practice.  
Some of the policy measures include the National Policy for the Abandonment of FGM/C that seeks to accelerate the reduction of the practice among others.
In addition, the government is in the process of enacting the Family Protection Bill that seeks to address domestic violence and its effects on the victims, majority of who are women and children. Others Bills submitted by the Ministry include the Marriage Bill and the Matrimonial Property Bill. These Bills are pending and I am optimistic that they will sail through.