Homa bay County women’s day celebrations

Members of Homa Bay County Assembly have been challenged to pass the disabled bill to allow the county government come up with policies to assist persons living with disabilities in the County.
The County Executive Committee Member in charge of Tourism, Gender, Sports, Culture and Social Services Fredrick Odero said that they were unable to assist women living with disabilities because they lacked policy framework to undertake their programs.
Speaking Friday at Homa Bay County Stadium during the celebrations to mark 2019’s International Women’s Day, Odero said his ministry was working closely with the security agency to make sure rampant cases of gender violence were reduced.
He said that the county government would strive to ensure two third gender rule was met by giving equal job opportunities and tenders to men and women in the County.
“Women are the pillars of the society and therefore they need to be empowered and protected against gender based violence,” Odero said.
The officer further called on the women to watch over their young girls during holidays to help in the fight against early pregnancies that is a menace in the region.
On people living with disability, the CECM urged the community to embrace them for they are highly marginalized in the community yet they could be productive in the County’s socio-economic development.
“If a woman is disabled, it is a double tragedy, for women are highly marginalized in the community thus they need the support of the society,” he said.
While addressing the same meeting, Inspector of Administration Police Goretty Achieng urged women not to protect suspects implicated in defilement cases but to report them to police for action and protection of their girls.
Chairman for Homa Bay Forum for the Disabled Rockefeller Okeyo challenged parents living with disability to seek for presidential bursaries from the children’s office.
At the same time, Okeyo asked parents living with children who were disabled not to hide them but rather expose them so that relevant authorities could assist them.
Women’s Day celebration is marked internationally to empower women and consider their efforts in the society and at their homes.
Those who graced the occasion included assistant chief for Kanyach-Kachar sub location Joyce Achieng, Helen Olwa representing regional officer NCPLD Homa Bay County, Ruth Oyier and Francis Guma the Chief Officer in the ministry among others.
By Omondi Osano/Davis Langat