President Uhuru says role of women in Government to grow

NAIROBI, KENYA: President Uhuru Kenyatta has pledged to continue empowering women so that they can play a bigger role in the decision making process of Government.

The President said this as he announced that Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation (MYWO) will be strengthened to play a central role in development, wealth creation and even security.

President Kenyatta said the organisation will from now on be tasked with helping women understand procurement processes so that they can take advantage of the rule reserving 30 percent of Government tenders for women, youth and the disabled.

He spoke when he hosted MYWO national and grassroots leaders at State House, Nairobi, for the better part of the day on Sunday.

“Women must be part and parcel of any important decision made by Government,” he said, adding that MYWO will be supported so that it can be “in a position where it can play that role”.

The President said the organisation will also be empowered to play a bigger role in security because it is “women who can identify strangers in every neighbourhood”.

He said MYWO will be tasked with making follow-ups with Ministries, County Governments and even Constituencies to know if the rule on Government tenders for women is being followed.

Rehab Mwikali, the newly elected chairperson, said the organisation will work closely with the Government and assured that she will steer women to create more wealth.

“We will revive the national machinery of MYWO and we will play a role in Nyumba Kumi security initiative,” she said.

Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire thanked President Kenyatta for appointing women to powerful positions in Government, which she said places women at the center of the Jubilee Government.

She said the Ministries of Foreign Affairs headed by Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Devolution (Anne Waiguru), Lands (Charity Ngilu) and Defence (Rachel Omamo) are some of the most powerful positions in Government.

Senator Zipporah Kittony said women were the largest single constituency in Kenya and they will continue supporting the Jubilee Government.

Kwale Women Rep Zainab Chidzuga said, “women support you today, they will support you for your second term and we will support Deputy President (William) Ruto for the following two terms.”

Chidzuga, who was elected on a CORD ticket, said she supports the Government because she wants to see peace prevail in the country.

“I want peace in my country and I have nothing to share with people who do not want peace,” she said.

The meeting was attended by Cabinet Secretaries Waiguru and Ngilu, Deputy Speaker of Parliament (Joyce Laboso) and almost 20 women MPs including Nairobi Women Rep Rachel Shebesh.