VP urges women to embrace politics

Vice Kalonzo Musyoka has called on women to fully involve themselves in political affairs and governance issues.

Mr. Musyoka said time for women to participate only as bystanders, cheerleaders or passive observers is long gone and urged the Women, Gender and Development Directorate to support women's participation in political and electoral processes in countries scheduled to hold elections.

"Time to implement the African Union's parity principle in line with its Gender policy has come. The African women decade has no choice but to ensure that the targets for equal opportunities for women in decision making positions are achieved in every arm of the government," he said.

The Vice President was speaking Monday during the official opening of the Experts meeting on the launch of the African Women's Decade at Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi.

The six day meeting which draws participants from the African continent aims at reviewing the progress made towards gender equality, women's empowerment and to articulate concrete actions to be taken to accelerate momentum in implementation and attainment of goals articulated in various declarations, conventions and protocols.

Mr. Musyoka also called on the African women to work with the African Union Peace and Security Department (PSD), the Peace and Security Council (PSC) and Panel of the Wise to end violence against women.

He said African women should occupy the frontline in entrenching the culture of peace and tolerance besides reconstructing societies currently ravaged by war and tensions.

The Vice President told the African women Decade to focus on obtaining decent work for women and equal opportunities in formal employment, promotion as well as closing the gender parity gap at the work place. He added that Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) for women must not only aim at providing jobs, but should also be seen to enter into big league business.

He noted that according to research women were best suited in the war against hunger and achieving food security, which he said calls for an increase in women's access to water, agricultural land, farm inputs, credit, technology, extension services and irrigation.

Mr. Musyoka said the country's new constitution revolutionizes land ownership and urged Kenyan women to utilize this opportunity to lead the way in showcasing how women empowerment in the agricultural sector can change a society's fortunes.

The Vice President said for girls to compete effectively with their male counterparts there must be parity in education at secondary and tertiary levels and high retention rates for girls.

Addressing the participants, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Development, Dr. Naomi Shaban said Kenya has taken concrete measures to address gender inequalities through the development of a National Policy on Gender and Development and its Plan of Action which guides gender mainstreaming in all sectors.

She said even though Kenya has made a lot of progress in the areas of education and gender parity in primary school enrolment, the country still has to address challenges on retrogressive cultural practices and the strengthening of institutional mechanisms in order to promote progress in attaining gender equality.

Dr. Shaban said despite the significant progress in advancing gender equality in Africa , there is still a gender gap that is widely reflected in inequitable allocation of resources, unequal participation in decision making , peace processes, gender based violence and harmful practices on women which she said denies women enjoyment of their human rights.

The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Kenya, Aeneas Chuma said UN is committed in the fight to eradicate poverty, the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and human rights for all.

He said UN system in Kenya is committed to supporting women empowerment and gender equality programmes as per the vision 2030.

Present at the function included the Assistant Minister for Gender, Atanas Keya, Director for Women, Gender and Development African Union Commission, Ms. Litho Musyimi Ogana, Secretary Gender and Social Development Prof. Collete Suda and Ministry of Gender Permanent Secretary Dr. James Nyikal among others.