By Edwin Cheserek
Moi University is set to implement affirmative action to increase the number of female students from hardship areas.
Vice Chancellor Richard Mibey says the university is developing a policy to ensure equal access to university education by students from marginalised areas.
Speaking at a seminar on Women and Leadership in Eldoret by the Institute for Gender Equity, Research and Development, Mr Mibey expressed concern at the growing gender disparities in the enrolment for students from arid and semi-arid areas, and those from other areas.
"We want to achieve gender equality for all in higher education," said the scholar.
He said the university and other stakeholders would spearhead and mainstream gender equity in all aspects of education through research and policy development.
He said the university is strengthening collaborations with local, national and international institutions. "We are optimistic of executing our goal as envisaged in our 2010-2015 strategic plan which has been revised to incorporate pillars of Vision 2030," he said.
This, he said supports the country’s National Gender Policy for Equity and Development and the Gender Policy in Education, which was inaugurated four years ago.
In the last two years the university Senate and the Committee of Deans unanimously agreed that a course in gender be included in all academic programmes.
He said gender statistic from different schools show they have made substantial gains towards gender parity.