•Waiguru was speaking ahead of the G7-16 Strategy pre-launch in Homa Bay County.
•The Kirinyaga Governor emphasized the need for nationwide support from men to help women achieve the 30 percent gender constitutional threshold.
Image: HANDOUT
In a push for gender equality, Council of Governors Chairperson Anne Waiguru has urged current second-term male governors to throw their support behind female leaders in future gubernatorial races.
The Kirinyaga Governor emphasized the need for nationwide support from men to help women achieve the 30 percent gender constitutional threshold.
"The G7-16 Strategy aims to increase the number of women holding governor positions in the country from the current 7 to 16," she said on Monday.
Waiguru was speaking ahead of the G7-16 Strategy pre-launch in Homa Bay County.
The second term Governor encouraged women leaders to be champions in their respective counties and highlighted that the G7 initiative aims to empower women across political, social, and economic sectors.
The statement comes as part of efforts to address gender disparities in leadership positions.
Kenya at the moment has seven women out of 47 governors in the incoming government.
They are Ann Waiguru ( Kirinyaga), Cecily Mbarire ( Embu), Gladys Wanga ( Homa Bay), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Kawira Mwangaza (Meru) and Susan Kihika ( Nakuru).
This is a small but significant improvement over 2017 when three women were elected as governors.
They were Joyce Laboso (now deceased) for Bomet, Anne Waiguru for Kirinyaga and Charity Ngilu for Kitui
During the Pre-Launch of the G7 strategy, a 10-point declaration of the strategy was delivered.
Some of the G7 strategy declaration objectives mentioned were to localize mentorship programmes set up in the women-led 7 counties, and lobby for women nominations in various political parties.
The objectives further outlined an increase of women's participation in devolution and voice in decision-making, unity between women governors with women senators to deliver devolution promises and ensure good governance and financial accountability.
The G7 strategy seeks to empower and support women leaders in demonstrating efficient, transformational and strategic governance within the devolved structures.
“The strategy aims to amplify the collective voice of women on national and gender issues, create a women leaders networking platform across various sectors and facilitate mentorship between seasoned leaders and emerging women and girls,” Waiguru said.
In a women's leadership meeting held in January, the Council of Governors chairperson, Waiguru shared the vision of the G7 strategy ahead of the launch.
“Our vision is to have women-led counties delivering on the promise of devolution and together, l believe we can do it. I also encourage more women to take up political and governance positions and not to shy away from venturing into their field of interest,” she said.