Nairobi: Kenya's commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women took centre stage at the 2nd Biannual National Gender Sector Working Group (GSWG) meeting held in Nairobi. The event brought together key government officials, civil society, development partners, and stakeholders to review progress, confront challenges, and map a strategic way forward in tackling gender disparities, gender-based violence (GBV), and economic exclusion.
According to Kenya News Agency, the Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Gender, Culture, Arts and Heritage, Hanna Cheptumo, set a bold tone reaffirming the government's commitment to gender equality. 'I look forward to engaging constructively as we reflect on our shared progress, challenges, and opportunities and, most importantly, as we chart the way forward with unity and purpose,' implored Cheptumo. She highlighted the Ministry's alignment with President William Ruto's 9-Point Agenda for Women and pledged to mainstream gender across all national development efforts.
The meeting's major announcements included the launch of the National Policy on Women's Economic Empowerment, which has already received Cabinet approval. 'If implemented fully, this policy will be a game changer,' she emphasised. 'It will shift women from the periphery to the centre of economic decision-making, unlocking their full potential as drivers of national development and action on climate change.' She also announced significant progress on the National Care Policy, which recognises the value of unpaid care and domestic work-tasks predominantly undertaken by women-and seeks to establish nationwide support systems for caregivers.
On the critical issue of gender-based violence and femicide, Cheptumo praised the work of the Presidential Technical Working Group on GBV, which she chairs. The taskforce has conducted public forums nationwide and is developing a comprehensive national strategy to enhance prevention, protection, and prosecution mechanisms. Cheptumo also reaffirmed the government's commitment to implementing the constitutional two-thirds gender principle and announced the development of a National Male Engagement and Inclusion Strategy aimed at transforming cultural norms involving men and boys in the gender equality journey.
In addition, the CS launched the Gender Climate Action Plan, which will provide a systematic approach to matters of gender equality while also tackling climate change. Concurrently, the Chairperson of the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence, Dr. Nancy Barasa, provided an update on the task force's progress since its gazettement in January 2025. She praised Kenya as one of the first countries in the region to openly acknowledge the gender-based violence crisis and take proactive measures.
UN Women Country Representative Antonia N'gabala applauded Kenya's leadership and recent strides while emphasising the need for stronger coordination and adequate funding to sustain momentum. 'It is a pleasure to be here for this important stock-taking moment in our gender equality journey. UN Women looks forward to working closely with the Ministry to advance the empowerment of women and girls across Kenya,' said N'gabala. She stressed urgency amid rising backlash against gender equality efforts, citing National Police data that revealed 5,578 cases of femicide were recorded in 2024, with 129 already reported this year.
The meeting underscored Kenya's renewed commitment to tackle gender inequality through bold policy reforms, strengthened coordination, and inclusive engagement, paving the way for a more equitable and prosperous future for all Kenyans.