SPEECH BY HON. ESTHER MURUGI MATHENGE, EGH, MP, MINISTER FOR GENDER, CHILDREN AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT DURING THE NATIONAL RALLY  OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATIONS AT THE MOMBASA MUNICIPAL STADIUM  IN MOMBASA DISTRICT ON 8TH  MARCH 2010 AT 10.00 AM

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Gender Children and Social Development Dr James Nyikal,
Secretary for Children Services
Director for Gender and Social Development
Provincial Commissioner Coast Province,
Director, National Commission on Gender and Development,
The Chief Executive Officer, Women Enterprise Fund,
Director National Council for Persons with Disabilities,
Members of the District organizing Committee
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen

I am delighted to join you here today on this special occasion marking the national rally of the International Women’s Day. This is a UN annual event that is observed every 8th of March all UN member states in honour of women. Accordingly, Kenya, as a dedicated UN member state has been commemorating the International Women’s Day since 1988.

The purpose of this Day is to recognize the fact that securing peace and social progress and the full enjoyment of human rights and fundamental freedoms require the active participation, equality and development of women and to acknowledge the contribution of women to the strengthening of international peace and security.

This is also a special day for the women to showcase their potential and advocate for gender responsive policies and programmes that will promote gender equality.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The theme of this year’s celebration is “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All’. This theme is relevant as we celebrate various initiatives embraced by the government to address equality concerns. These initiatives have been demonstrated by a shift from addressing women issues in isolation to a comprehensive approach on gender mainstreaming and development.

The issue of equal opportunities is an essential component in our country’s preparations for future progress. Indeed, if the society does not march towards its goal with all its women and men together, it is impossible for it to progress.

Ladies and Gentlemen:
 Since independence, the government has demonstrated concerns for the welfare and special needs of men and women due to their socio-economic and political contributions towards national development.
The government is committed to ensure equal rights and opportunities for both men and women, for greater progress and national development. This commitment is reflected in Kenya’s Vision 2030, which is the government’s development blue print. The   aim of the Vision is to create a ‘globally competitive and prosperous country with high quality of life by 2030’.The vision is founded on three pillars; Economic, Social and Political.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Efforts have been made to realize the aforementioned vision by the government putting in place a number of policy initiatives, programmes and legislation to improve the socio- economic status of the women and to enhance their participation in national development.
 
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 the essential linkages between the productive and reproductive roles of women, but also recognizes the need to adopt equity 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 all sectors 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 development processes.

The government is in the process of enacting Family Protection Bill that seeks to address domestic violence and the effects it has on the victims, majority of who are women and children. Other Bills submitted by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development include; the Marriage Bill and Matrimonial Property Bill. As we celebrate this Day, it is my appeal to the Parliamentarians to consider approving the aforementioned Bills which are still pending.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a recognized fact that poverty levels are very high among majority of women and other marginalized groups in Kenya. To counter this problem the government has put in place measures to address this by Establishment of the Women Enterprise Fund to facilitate women’s access to credit and empower them economically. Another intervention is the establishment of the Social Protection Fund that seeks to support vulnerable and poor women. The Youth Enterprise Fund is another government initiative that seeks to ensure access to credit facilities by young women and men in Kenya to enable them establish businesses and earn income to improve their lives.

Devolved funds have also been instituted by the government as a measure to ensure equitable distribution of national resources to all regions of the country.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Education plays a critical role in promoting equal opportunities between men and women in national development. The government has facilitated the attainment of this through education and training at all levels and has further developed initiatives which include: the development of education gender policy, free primary education, and expansion of boarding facilities for girls, mobile schools and school feeding programmes for children in standard one to four in arid and semi arid lands.

In addition, affirmative action in bursary allocation, university admission and in appointment of qualified women managers, re-admission of school girls who become pregnant while still in school and engendering the curriculum and gender capacity building for school teachers inspectors and managers. Besides this Kenya has enacted the Children’s Act of 2001 which incorporates the right to Education for all Kenyans.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Another demonstration of the government commitment to gender equality, women empowerment and good governance, H.E the President issued a directive requiring 30 % representation of women in all public appointments. In the current parliament, out of a total of 222 MPs, out of which 22 are women, an increase from 18 in the previous parliament.

The country has enacted policies and legislation that ensure equal representation between men and women in all decision-making levels including politics. 

The Parliament has also enacted the Political Parties Act which provides that one third of the National committee of each party must be women for a party to receive government funding. I wish to prevail upon all political parties in the country to ensure compliance of the 30 % affirmative action. I also call upon women to vie for elective posts in order to spearhead the gender agenda and I urge the women to use their numerical numbers to vote in their fellow women in order attain gender parity.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I wish to underscore the fact that Kenya is facing a big challenge in addressing Gender Based Violence and other harmful cultural practices. This has impacted negatively on the health, and psychosocial status of women, and has thus impeded their ability to effectively participate in the development processes.

The government is therefore committed to accelerating the abandonment of the Female Genital Mutilation and has developed a draft policy and a legislative framework to address these issues.

Ladies and Gentlemen:
Women have been facing many challenges in the employment sector such as discrimination on gender basis. To eliminate discrimination against women in employment, the government has enacted various legislative measures and reforms towards attainment of equality between men and women. The new Employment Act of 2007 prohibits discrimination in access to employment and in employment security on the basis of sex among others. The Act also has legal requirement of equal pay for equal work of value. Men and women can now be employed in any sector as long as they meet the required qualifications without any discrimination. Both men and women can now be given paternity and maternity leave respectively without discrimination.

Despite all these progress, considerable challenges still exist, and it is humble appeal to all including women Associations to strive and lobby for equal access of opportunities for both men and women for greater participation in nation building.
We still have along way to go for minorities and women to be appreciated, respected and valued throughout the world. I therefore wish to appeal to all and to lobby for women rights for greater progress in our country.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As you are aware, these celebrations were launched nationally on 1st March 2010 in Baringo district and various activities were carried out during the week preceding this day in all the districts. Most of the activities undertaken were welfare and beneficial to the women and men of this country. Some of the activities carried out by various districts during the weeklong programme of events included:
• Public Talks/ Lectures on various topical issues affecting women( Cancer,  Teenage pregnancies, HIV/ AIDS)
• Sporting Activities
• Free Legal Aid and Counseling  services
• Free medical Camps for  check ups and screening
• Visits/ Donations  to needy families and   welfare institutions
• Publicity activities/ Media presentations / interviews
• Processions / Road shows
• Media Break fast
• Gala Night
• Symposium
• Dedication of special prayers by various religious groups

Today marks the climax of these celebrations and I would like to appeal to all Kenyans to embrace gender equality /equity right from our families, communities and larger institutions to ensure that men and women, boys and girls are accorded equal opportunities as we all strive to participate in nation building.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

I would like to commend the efforts made by various organisations and committees to organise this very important function. Specifically I wish to thank the national- multi-sectoral steering committee and the district organising committees for the good efforts made to ensure the success of this day. I wish to send my sincere gratitude to UNIFEM, Kenya Airports Authority, and all those who gave financial, and or material support towards these celebrations. I also wish to salute all wananchi who have turned up to participate in this special day, and more specifically all the men and women and wish them longer lives and happy years of progress as we all participate in building our nation. To all wananchi let’s strive to create a society for all without gender discrimination.

With these remarks, Ladies and Gentlemen, it is now my pleasure and humble duty to declare the weeklong activities for the International Women’s Day 2010 officially closed.

Thank you.