Kenya Women Parliamentary Association held a two-third Mashinani forum in Wajir county to sensitize women on the importance of participating in elective positions and governance.
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) is a cross-party caucus bringing on board all women parliamentarians from both Houses (National Assembly and Senate). The caucus works to promote and protect democracy and advocate for women's rights.
"Our women play a significant role in our Country, and to be specific our Somali women are renowned for their resilience, entrepreneurship and business oriented people. They are often the main income earners for their families," Wajir Woman Rep Fatuma Jeho said.
The Kewopa team, led by Kajiado Women Representative Leah Sankare and Jeho encouraged the girls to break barriers and take women leadership to greater heights.
"Our women play a significant role in our Country, and to be specific our Somali women are renowned for their resilience, entrepreneurship and business oriented people. They are often the main income earners for their families," Fatuma added.
She said there is a need to encourage women to take leadership positions.
"Leadership and politics in our region are largely male-driven and dominated due to social norms and practices, this hinders women's capacity to participate in leadership roles and continued polarisation of clan identify is major barrier to women’s political participation and leadership, not only in Wajir County, but across our region," Fatuma said.
The county MP also launched and distributed dignitary kits for school-going girls. Over 14,000 school-going girls are set to benefit from this initiative.
"We are happy to see Women leaders from all the parts of the country convene a meeting in Wajir to talk and encourage our girls, the girls will be motivated by such meetings," said Yasmin Abdullahi A wajir resident who attended the meeting.
The constitution calls for two-thirds gender rule, which is aimed at ensuring at least one-third of the seats in the National Assembly and the Senate are occupied by one gender.
This was an effort to promote gender equality and women's representation in politics.
