National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has called for increased investment in women as a key strategy for building stronger families, vibrant communities, and a more prosperous nation.

Speaking at the Posta Grounds in Kanduyi Constituency, Bungoma County, on Saturday, July 26, 2025,  Wetangula celebrated the vital role women play in driving socio-economic progress across the country, emphasising the need to create more inclusive opportunities that enable them to thrive.

“As a nation, we celebrate and champion the vital role played by women in building our communities and driving socio-economic progress. Investing in women offers a great opportunity to nurture stronger families, leading to vibrant communities and hence a prosperous nation,” he said.

He urged leaders and stakeholders across all sectors to break down barriers that continue to limit women’s access to education, economic resources, and leadership roles.

“Let us continue to work together to create opportunities, break barriers, and empower our women to realise their full economic potential,” he said.

He spoke during the latest edition of the Women Empowerment Program, hosted by area Member of Parliament John Makali.

Similar calls

This comes days after the Principal Secretary of the State Department of Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, called for the inclusion of under-represented groups in the peace process to build a legitimate and durable peace in the region.

Speaking during the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Regional Forum for Eminent Personalities and Leaders for Peace in Nairobi on July 24, 2025, he stated that peace cannot exist when segments of society are excluded.

“I wish to emphasise the need to ensure that women, youth, and other under-represented groups are included in peace processes.

“The wisdom of eminent personalities should be combined with intergenerational dialogue and inclusive consultations to foster legitimate and durable peace. Peacebuilding cannot succeed if large segments of society remain excluded,” he said.

On her part, Cabinet Secretary Hannah Cheptumo of Gender, Culture, the Arts, and Heritage stated that the inclusion of women in peacekeeping initiatives will strengthen the region’s preventive diplomacy. 

“The genius of this IGAD council of eminent personalities is that by harnessing the essence of Track II, cultural arts, and our shared heritage, we are leveraging trust, familiarity, and rootedness, the spaces precisely where women and youth excel.

“Including them is therefore not about meeting quotas; it is about harnessing our region’s full collective wisdom for preventive diplomacy and peacebuilding,” she said.

 “When we bring together our daughters and sons and our mothers and fathers, we build peace that draws from the complete spectrum of human experience and insight,” she added.