Women urge government to boost wealth creation

First Lady Rachel Ruto, Gender PS Ann Wang'ombe, Ida Odinga, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and other leaders during the launch of the Beijing Report to mark International Women's Day at Tom Mboya University, Homa Bay County, on March 8, 2025. [James Omoro, Standard] Women leaders urged the government to improve wealth creation as Kenya marked this year's International Women's Day on Saturday. The event, held at Tom Mboya University in Homa Bay County, saw women leaders highlight poverty as a serious challenge affecting many women across the country. The celebration, attended by First Lady Rachel Ruto, Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga, and ODM leader Raila Odinga's wife, Ida Odinga, came at a time when many women face financial struggles. Women leaders present at the event decried poverty as a significant barrier to women's development. Maendeleo ya Wanawake Chairperson Rahab Muiu, emphasized that the empowerment of women in Kenya cannot be achieved if they lack financial resources. She said poverty has hindered many women from realizing their dreams. Muiu urged President William Ruto to implement measures that would financially empower women. "Poverty is a major challenge for many women in our country. I ask the First Lady to speak to President Ruto and ensure money is put into the hands of women. Many women are suffering," Muiu stated. Governor Wanga noted that a lack of funds is a major obstacle for women seeking to enter politics. She said many women aspire to hold political positions, but financial constraints often prevent them from achieving their goals. "I've realized that a female politician might be excellent at appealing to voters, but without funding, she could easily fail to secure a political seat," Wanga explained. Homa Bay Woman Rep Joyce Osogo also called on the Kenya Kwanza government to put money into the hands of women. "I'm urging Madam Rachel to speak to President Ruto about creating more avenues for the financial empowerment of women," Osogo said. First Lady Rachel Ruto, who was the chief guest at the event, reassured attendees that the Kenya Kwanza government is committed to empowering women. She highlighted various initiatives designed to ensure women have access to public funds, including the Women Enterprise Fund, Hustler Fund, Maternal Package through the Social Health Authority (SHA), and Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO). "President Ruto is committed to empowering women, both financially and in terms of healthcare. These initiatives aim to enable women to create wealth and access affordable healthcare," Mrs. Ruto affirmed. She also encouraged women to develop kitchen gardens as a means to combat hunger in society. "Women play significant roles in the country, and their contributions must be recognized. I urge women to be more dedicated so that we can achieve even greater success in leadership," she added. Ida Odinga urged women to support each other in the spirit of empowerment. "Let women hold each other's hands, and those who have been supported should also help others. This is one of the best ways to empower women," she said. She also called on Kenyans to prioritize the education of girls to enable more women to rise to leadership positions. "Let's combat teen pregnancy to ensure our girls remain in school," Mrs. Odinga urged. Kabondo Kasipul MP Eve Obara emphasized the need to support women in their bid for elective positions. "Women have proven their leadership capabilities in this country, as demonstrated in Homa Bay, where numerous women hold elected positions. Let us join efforts to support women who run for office," Obara said. The annual event is held to recognize and appreciate the significant progress made in promoting gender equality and celebrating women's contributions to societal development. UN Country Representative Antonia Sodonon called on the government to allocate more funds for women's empowerment programs. She said this would help empower more women and support girls' education across the country. "We urge the government to increase the budget for women's empowerment and to prioritize the education of girls," Sodonon concluded.

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