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{
    "id": 824291,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/824291/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 298,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Kandara, JP",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. (Ms.) Alice Wahome",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 1700,
        "legal_name": "Alice Muthoni Wahome",
        "slug": "alice-muthoni-wahome"
    },
    "content": "expressed concern that 1.6 billion people still live in multidimensional poverty. It also says that only 80 per cent of the extremely poor live in the rural areas. That acknowledges that the progress in the eradication of poverty has been uneven and that inequality has increased. It expresses concern that poverty is a serious impediment to the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls including those living in the rural areas. As I had mentioned to the House, the document has 52 conclusions. I was just highlighting that so that I can draw the interest of the Members to read the document. As I near the end, the joint communique has various headings. I do not think I want to go through that. The Commission recognised that it was necessary and strategic for the CSW to be the strategic platform for Kenya to highlight key issues, share best practices and help share the global agenda. It recognises the importance of fully engaging men and boys as agents and beneficiaries of change for the achievement of gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls. The Government of Kenya’s Delegation to the 62 Session on the CSW identified various pillars as being areas of priority to guide action in the employment of women and girls. There was recognition that gender equality will be achieved if we include in our strategies and frameworks the participation of men and boys. I think they are all men. But it says ‘men and boys’. Achievement will be achieved when we agree to sustain advocacy for increased numbers and effective participation of women in leadership at all levels of decision-making. You know we have had various losses in the public sector. It includes various parastatal heads and directorships. I take this opportunity to point out that the appointment and nomination of women has been low and below the expected thresholds as guided by the Constitution. There are various issues that came up to guide the outcomes. As I wind up, I want to go to what we agreed in terms of the communique, for purposes of taking action. The team called for action and greater collaboration between both levels of Government, namely, the Executive, Parliament and the Judiciary. As I had said, when cases of gender-based violence, succession and women being denied their property rights come up, the Judiciary is required. That should be the case even in public bodies’ appointments. Development partners are also urged to partner with women, women organisations and the Government to assist in achieving gender equality, especially to reach rural women. There was also differentiation in terms of women living in the rural areas. We agreed that the suitable term is to refer to women in the rural areas as ‘women and girls living in the rural areas’ and not ‘rural women’ anymore. Therefore, through the joint communique, there was call to action. The call to action came up with 32 points. Because this is the last part, I could just go through a few of them. We said that we must develop a framework for the participation of women and girls in the Big Four Agenda as a framework for accountability and effective coordination across the sectors. There is a call for strengthened systems to increase representation of women in decision-making at all levels including affirmative action policies that I have referred to. Guided by Articles 27, 81 and 100 of the Constitution, electoral reforms need to be gender friendly, appropriate and for advancing women’s effective political leadership. We should put concerted efforts to change the narrative of gender equality and women empowerment by highlighting the need to cooperate with men as partners. We are to showcase the gains that gender equality and women empowerment has achieved and the impact of women leadership. We are to coordinate a county level mapping of viable business opportunities, markets and emerging frontiers that expand decent work for all women. The review and repeal of legal restrictions in all relevant laws was another call for action. Working towards amendment of rules The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposes only. Acertified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}