Margaret Kenyatta advocates for gender equality, empowerment of county first ladies

Former First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has called for the empowerment of county first ladies through gender equality and social development.

She said this while she presided over the closing ceremony of the inaugural Leadership Programme for County Social Transformation in Mombasa County on Saturday, April 6, 2024.

During the event, Beyond Zero Initiative officially partnered with the Kenya School of Government (KSG) to establish the Margaret Kenyatta Institute (MKI).

According to the organisers, the establishment of the MKI and initiatives such as the Leadership Programme for County Social Transformation highlight the broader recognition of women’s crucial role in driving economic growth and social progress.

The former First Lady noted that the vision, mission, and mandate of the Institute are to transform society through services and programmes that promote social justice, gender equality, wellness and health, and empowerment.

County First Ladies from Kilifi, Elgeyo Marakwet, Migori, West Pokot, Kakamega, Narok, Siaya, and Bomet attended the caucus to engage in strategic discussions and initiatives focused on promoting social change at the grassroots level. Mrs Kenyatta extended her gratitude to the participating county first ladies for their involvement in the event.

“I thank you for being the first cohort of this inaugural programme, which recognizes the unique leadership roles you play in your counties as spouses of governors.

“We applaud you for your diverse aspirations, in what may sometimes be uncharted paths or challenging roles you play to make a difference in your communities,” Mrs Kenyatta said.

Collaboration

The collaboration between the Kenya School of Government and the Beyond Zero Initiative is meant to craft the leadership program curriculum. The Leadership Programme for County Social Transformation initiative is meant to highlight the increasing recognition of the essential role women play in fostering both economic development and social advancement.

“I hope that the case studies and experiential learning reflect the opportunities to help you overcome challenges and promote continuous engagement in the future,” she added.

Lady Justice Njoki Ndung’u, the Supreme Court judge, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, the former First Lady of Ekiti State in Nigeria, Nicole Brzeski and Cora Neumann of the Global First Ladies Association, and Lucy Mathenge from UN Women were present during the week-long event at the coast.

Topics such as the interface between government and politics, gender and social development, legacy building for enduring impact, championing causes for social transformation, philanthropy and resource mobilization, and partnerships formed part of the discussion during the function.