President Ruto rewards women as the country marks International Women's Day

As he spoke in Embu, Kenyans from all walks of life convened across the country to celebrate the mark women have left in the country and push for their inclusion in the country's development.

While some moved to address the financial security of women, others unveiled projects to improve their welfare.

In Kisumu, First Lady Rachel Ruto called for women's empowerment and gender inclusivity and described it as the right step the country can make.

This came as the government demonstrated its efforts to empower women and ensure that they are a key pillar in the country's growth.

"This morning, due to the respect of women of this republic of Kenya, I have appointed 10 Ambassadors who will represent us in various countries in the world. I have further appointed six women to become deputy Ambassadors," President Ruto said in his address at Moi Stadium in Embu.

However, the President challenged women in the country to boldly occupy their space of leadership in various sectors and believe in their capabilities to perform.

"I want to ask the women of Kenya to listen to me. Even as we believe in you, the women of Kenya must believe in themselves. It begins with women believing in themselves. We will do whatever we can to support women. But you must start by believing in yourselves. That way, you can make progress," Ruto said.

He made a reassurance of engineering the realization of a two-third gender rule that will empower women to offer leadership in various top positions in the country.

In his speech, President Ruto said that his administration will remove collateral requirements for women groups who apply for loans from the Women Enterprise Fund (WEF) to start or expand their business premises.

Ruto argued that the move will eradicate bureaucracy that has over the years been an impediment for the majority of women in the country to access the Fund.

UN Women Kenya Country Rep Anna Mutavati commended the Kenya Kwanza government for fronting equality that is gradually ending cases of violence against women.

"We are aware of the rising cases of femicide that have continued to dog this country. We call for increased resources towards your commitment (Ruto) to end gender-based violence. Let us give the best present ever to the people of Kenya by finally adopting the Law on two-thirds gender rule which is very elusive," Mutavati said.

Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Anne Wang'ombe said women in Kenya had achieved a lot in the transformation of the economy.

"We are today celebrating remarkable achievements and contributions of women and girls and all who support their course across the globe. It is a day to recognize the strength, resilience, and unwavering determination against all odds," Wang'ombe said.

Embu Woman Representative Njoki Njeru said empowerment of women and girls plays a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society, hence, contributing to eradication of poverty.

"Social norms such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are still prevalent in some parts of Embu County. FGM causes immediate and long-term negative effects. My office has established a program of restoring hope in these women," she said.

Gender and Affirmative Action Principal Secretary Anne Wang'ombe said women in Kenya had achieved a lot in the transformation of the economy.

"We are today celebrating remarkable achievements and contributions of women and girls and all who support their cause across the globe. It is a day to recognise the strength, resilience, and unwavering determination against all odds," Wang'ombe said.

Embu Woman Representative Njoki Njeru said empowerment of women and girls plays a pivotal role in fostering a more inclusive and equitable society, hence, contributing to eradication of poverty.

"Social norms such as Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) are still prevalent in some parts of Embu County. FGM causes immediate and long-term negative effects. My office has established a program of restoring hope in these women," she said.

In Machakos, women asked the Governments to set aside funds to boost women groups in the rural areas.

Lower Eastern Women Cooperative Society (LEWOCO) secretary Jacinta Velo, who held the celebrations at Katangi Catholic grounds, said the national Government should pump more resources to the grassroots.

"We should prioritise educating the girl child to increase number of able women who would pump back to the society," said Velo.

Women were however challenged to shun dependency on affirmative action and instead fight for leadership positions in the society.

Ann Kiusya, who is the only serving female County Assembly Speaker in the country, said Kenya has a huge potential for more women leadership that must be exploited to get more women on the decision-making table.

Ms Kiusya said it is urgent for women to break the barriers to leadership in political, corporate and academic realms.

"As women, we need to rise up against odds and claim our rightful position in the society. We must stop relying on affirmative action. That is the only way real transformation will be realised," she said.

Kiusya lauded the move by the Women Governors Caucus, G7 to kick off the process of mentoring and supporting more women eyeing various leadership positions.

She cited fear of failure, intimidation, lack of exposure and limited resources as the major challenges that must be overcome for women to get positions of power and influence.

"There is no force more powerful than a woman determined to rise. There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish," she said.

Women in Nairobi also called on the national and county governments to include them in their decision-making processes.

"It is unfortunate that in carbon credit discussions, women are not included and they don't even understand it. Yet, they are the ones who do mitigation and adaptation because they use and access land," said Kenya Land Alliance CEO Faith Alubbe.

She spoke during the launch of Haki Ardhi App, which will serve as women land rights reporting tool to help in documenting lands rights injustices faced by women.

In Baringo, the plight of women who have been forced to contend with a spate of insecurity featured prominently as stakeholders from the region convened to mark the event.

Jane Maramba, a Nyumba Kumi leader from Marigat, explained that the attacks have seriously affected the social and economic contribution of women in their societies.

"When we have attacks, women are forced to flee with their children. They end up in camps where they do little to nothing to improve their lives," said Maramba.

Baringo is among the counties seriously affected by the recent acts of banditry that have left scores injured or killed, many families displaced with some schools closed.

Seeds Savers Network communication officer Tabitha Munyiri echoed the sentiments saying that the community requires a lot of sensitisation to ditch the retrogressive cultures.

In the coastal region, Kenya Land Alliance (KLA) and its development partners unveiled a mobile application to enable women to report cases of land rights violations in the country.

The application, Haki Ardhi, was developed by Rainforest Foundation UK and the TMG think tank to help ease the reporting of and access to justice for women who violated land rights issues across the country.

Women would report the cases through the APP or via a toll-free SMS number 23583 to case managers who will advise them on the right legal or administrative steps to take towards seeking justice.

According to KLA CEO Faith Alubbe, the App is being piloted in Taita Taveta and Kakamega counties before it is rolled out to other counties.

She said the App has streamlined reporting the violation of women-deprived land rights. She said the mobile App will enable women to report their deprived land rights on time without spending money.

In Kisii, stakeholders said the gender norms that have constrained the Abagusii women's involvement in politics and leadership roles are gradually fading away.

Gender expert Magdalane Gesare says the Constitution gave women a new lease of life both in political and office leadership.

"Many have spoken in the position of women in leadership, today we mark a major milestone in women leadership. We no longer have women as housewives but equals in decision-making."

Meanwhile, gender equality defenders have embarked on a campaign to advocate women's land rights in Kenya.

In the Western region, women petitioned authorities to protect widows from land grabbers and chauvinists who frustrate their efforts to secure land rights.

Priscillah Wangui, a land defender from the Defenders Coalition, a group that fights for land rights for women, urged the government to ensure women's rights were safeguarded in succession matters.

"I am a widow and I was once a victim of retrogressive cultural beliefs where I was denied the opportunity to inherit land after my husband died. It was not until I moved to court that I became a landowner and later on defender of women's rights seeing the troubles they faced in succession," she said while in Kakamega to mark Women's Day.

Josephine Ndirias, founder of Mukogodo Girl Empowerment, a human rights defender against early marriages and female genital mutilation said law enforcers must be vigilant to help stem the retrogressive practice.

"We have rescued at least 5,000 girls from early marriages and FGM and they have gone back to school. Investigators and the judiciary should ensure retrogressive cultural beliefs do not supersede the constitution and civility," she said.

The rights defenders also called on the government to implement the one-third gender law to ensure women rise to top leadership positions.

Report by James Murimi, Muriithi Mugo, Sharon Owino, Eric Abuga, Benard Lusigi, Renson Mnyamwezi and James Munyeki, Erastus Mulwa, Noel Nabiswa and Victor Nzuma