William Ruto's seven-point agenda for women, girls

Kenya Kwanza presidential flag-bearer William Ruto arrive at Nyayo National stadium for the signing of Kenya Kwanza Women chapter on June 10, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard] 

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday signed a seven-point charter with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance Women League as a commitment to ensure that women get their rightful share if the coalition forms the next administration.

Chief among the DP’s promises was that he would set aside 50 per cent of Cabinet slots to women.

His commitment was crystallised in a seven-point agenda that he said listed the problems women are facing in the country. The move is meant to woo women to back his State House bid.

The DP also pledged to implement the elusive two-thirds gender rule within the first three months if he clinches the country’s top seat.

Speaking at Nyayo National Stadium, Ruto said there is a realisation of the importance of having women in national politics as they are the face of the upcoming elections.

According to him the Kenya Kwanza government will be the only one that will have the most formidable women leaders.

To solidify his point, Ruto cited the number of women vying for different positions under the coalition, saying that already they are sure of the first woman who will represent them from Kericho County.

“There are already signs that we will have the most women elected in the next Parliament coming from Kenya Kwanza. I am not a prophet but can predict that Kenya Kwanza will produce the most elected women in the next government setting a record,’’ he said

The DP was referring to Kericho Woman Rep aspirant Beatrice Kemei who is unopposed. In what he said is a way of empowering women, the DP said a Kenya Kwanza government will put a mechanism to actualise the gender rule and immediately operationalise that mechanism as he intends to bring women on the decision-making table.

Gender rule seem to be something that both the Kenya Kwanza and the Azimio movement are hoping to achieve in their administrations.

Ruto had already promised women a 50 per cent share of the government including the cabinet secretary positions in order to empower them.

The event brought together women from all the 47 counties across the country

Ruto has also committed himself to provide a free three-month supply of diapers to nursing mothers should he be elected president, under the hustler health care programme. In an arrangement that will be effected by an enhanced National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) medical cover, Ruto said under his administration, every Kenyan shall be insured at affordable premiums by December this year.

The DP also promised women that his government will protect them and help fight gender based violence and female genital mutilation and will also fight for the rights of domestic workers, including those working outside Kenya and end early marriages through the formation of a woman agency.

He said Agency for women rights that will be set up across all the 47 counties, where the officer in charge will be under the office of the president as it will be upon his office to monitor how the issues are being handled.

Ruto also said his administration will establish a Sh50 billion Hustler Fund which will advance loans to small businesses without interest.

His government he says will actualise access to government procurement opportunities by ‘’ ensuring that women owned enterprises will automatically qualify for the local purchase order (LPO) financing through the fund without any other conditions,’’

On education, Ruto said his team will ensure of a comprehensive return to school policy for teenage mothers who will then be automatic beneficiaries of all government bursary schemes.

Further he promised to ensure that his administration will double the amount of money allocated to school feeding program “to make it possible to increase the number of children benefit from the program.

Hot school meal

“We will transfer the same resources to county governments and require of them to match the program so that 8 million kids will have a hot meal in school,’’ he said.

Currently Ruto said, 2 million children are currently benefiting from the programme.

Other promises in the education sector include free sanitary towels for all girls and bursaries for girls taking science-related courses in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.

The Kenya Kwanza administration will also be keen on the environment as he will ensure that there is affordable cooking fuel and ‘’ eventually eliminate the use of firewood and charcoal,’’

And on agriculture and land ownership by women, he said that his government will be strict on how land transactions are done to avoid victimising women and children

According to Ruto, Kenya Kwanza settled on the issues following successful engagements that his team has done with women across the country. Also present was his running mate Rigathi Gachagua, and leaders of affiliate parties, Musalia Mudavadi (ANC), Moses Wetang’ula (Ford Kenya), Alfred Mutua (Maendeleo Chap Chap) and National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, among others.