Marking International Women’s Day, the European Union Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, graced the County International Women’s Day celebrations in Iten. The event, centered on the theme ‘Let us inspire inclusion, Education not Mutilation,’ aimed to advocate against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM).
Ambassador Geiger emphasised the need for collaborative efforts to eradicate FGM, condemning it as an undignified practice. She expressed hope that with EU support, no girl in Kenya would ever have to face the trauma of FGM again.
“I am glad that everyone is fully committed to supporting women,” remarked Ambassador Geiger, highlighting the importance of implementing policies such as the two-thirds gender rule across all sectors.
However, she cautioned against viewing such measures as mere tokenism, stating, “We do not need to have minimum participation of women. We need it to reach a 50% equal share with the male counterparts.”
Touching upon the global issue of femicide, Ambassador Geiger emphasised that it transcends national boundaries, noting a rapid increase in cases worldwide. She attributed this to societal pressure and stressed the need to address the underlying issues.
“Violence always starts from the stronger to the less strong, and women are less strong, thus are the targets of violence thus leading to femicide,” she stated.
Advocating for proactive measures, Ambassador Geiger called for educating women about recognizing early signs of danger and providing support for victims. “If helped early, femicide will largely reduce,” she asserted.
In her remarks, Deputy Governor Prof Grace Cheserek highlighted the strides made by women in Elgeyo Marakwet since the advent of devolution.
“Many women are now holding positions in the county government leadership,” she noted proudly.
Prof. Cheserek encouraged women to participate fully across all sectors, emphasizing that they can contribute significantly to the county’s economy.
By Rennish Okong’o
