North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) has launched the 2024-2028 gender strategy that will contribute to building an inclusive economy as well as social and economic transformation of communities living in the region and beyond.
The Gender Strategy (NEGS) seeks to identify and address specific interventions in peace and security, climate change, economic empowerment, gender equality and vulnerabilities, culture, leadership and governance, institutional strengthening and partnerships as well as resource mobilisation.
Speaking during the event in Nandi Hills, Uasin Gishu governor Jonathan Bii who was also the chief guest noted that inclusivity is key for any society to achieve social and economic transformstion.
Governor Bii said that women are the most affected as they bear the greatest loss whenever projects are done because in most cases, they are not included in decision making as well as in implementation stages adding that it’s high time for women to be allowed to take a lead in society.
“To achieve sustainability of women-led projects we need to come out strongly to find the best solutions and strategies especially on resource mobilising. Women can be very strong people. We want women to take the lead,” asserted governor Bii.
Bii further said that all programmes should ensure gender compliance is done through social, economic and financial inclusions.
Nandi Governor Stephen Sang who is also NOREB chair echoed Bii’s sentiments noting that the real intention of devolution was to bring about inclusivity as a way to achieve economic transformation.
He said that gender mainstreaming if well employed can help deal with critical issues in our Counties by identifying champions in different sectors to pull others in the right direction.
Sang noted that the gender strategy will help in mobilising resources from different partners and donors thus ensure its implementation is affected.
“The gender strategy will ensure all stakeholders are on board to achieve economic empowerment and financial inclusion in which no one is left behind in the region, ” governor Sang said.
Nandi Deputy governor Dr.Yulitta Mitei said that through the gender strategy women will be able to take part in climate change by planting trees and taking care of them which can also also offer economic empowerment.
She said that in most cases women are excluded from financial programmes due to lack of capacity building, a reason they are coming up with a different approach on different aspects that have not been dealt with because of the same approach all the time.
“In most cases you will find that women are excluded from typical financial systems because they lack smart phones or even bank accounts thus, they are unable to transact in the digital era,” she pointed out.
Present at the same event was Bungoma deputy governor Jeniffer Mbatiah who called on women leaders to mentor upcoming politicians as well as to go for leadership positions as a way to ensure increased gender inclusion adding that the gender strategy will play the role of mentorship.
“As women leaders who have been put in positions we want to prove to the world that we are capable of performing to change the livelihood of people in the society. We want to do mentorship programmes so that we monitor the upcoming politicians. Am sure by this we are going to increase women leaders,” explained Mbatiah.
NOREB comprises of eight counties namely; Baringo, West Pokot,Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Samburu, Turkana and Elgeyo Marakwet.
By Ruth Mainye
