- The G7 Strategy’s vision is to model women governors as transformative leaders and champions of inclusive political representation and participation.
- During G7 strategy launch in Kenya two weeks ago, CoG chair Anne Waiguru noted the need to accelerate actions to bridge glaring gender gaps in leadership.
Image: HANDOUT
The Council of Governors women caucus has launched the G7 Strategy chapter in New York.
The strategy which had earlier been launched in Kenya brings together Kenya's seven elected female governors.
The G7 comprises Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Kawira Mwangaza (Meru) and Embu's Cecily Mbarire.
They aim to work together to deliver the promise of devolution through socio-economic development, political strategy, good governance, accountability, access to Justice and institutional strengthening pillars.
This is to increase their chances of re-election and improve the opportunity to elect more women governors past the two-thirds constitutional gender threshold.
The aim of the New York chapter launch of the G7 Strategy done in collaboration with Oxfam USA, was to mobilise partners to support the strategies' implementation.
Council of Governors chairperson Anne Waiguru said recommendations made in the forum will enable sustainable implementation of the strategy.
These includes the need to develop a mentorship programme to support women leaders at the grassroots level and the establishment of a strong communication and branding strategy.
There is also the need for the identification of potential and able women leaders to be trained to take up leadership positions.
The forum also recommended the strengthening of women’s organisations to support the actualisation of the strategy.
Waiguru said the G7 Strategy will also be guiding current women governors in remaining relevant and responsive to the needs of the community and providing clarity and priorities for intervention.
She noted the great need to utilise the current women governors as a springboard for other aspiring women leaders and the need to widen women’s representation base in Parliament.
This will also ensure they are propelled to the next level of leadership, she said.
The Kirinyaga governor and first woman to be re-elected to the position said there was need to develop sustainable strategies for funding implementation of the strategy.
She recommended expansion of the G7 approach to be a Pan-African movement to inspire other countries with similar governance systems to strengthen women’s political participation and representation.
The G7 Strategy’s vision is to model women governors as transformative leaders and champions of inclusive political representation and participation.
The launch that was held at Bahai International Community Center was attended by Governors Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Wavinya Ndeti (Machakos), Cecily Mbarire (Embu) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) and Idah Odinga, wife to ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Women leaders drawn from other African countries also attended.
During G7 strategy launch in Kenya two weeks ago, CoG chair Anne Waiguru noted the need to accelerate actions to bridge glaring gender gaps in leadership.
She said women are not just beneficiaries of development efforts but are powerful agents of change, catalysts for economic growth and pillars of societal stability thus the need to invest in their empowerment.
President William Ruto who presided over the G7 launch in Kenya affirmed his commitment to gender equality.
The President said he will support alternative gender representation at the topmost leadership positions as one of the means of attaining the one-third gender representation threshold.
He promised to push for the implementation of recommendations of the National Dialogue Committee (Nadco) report that seeks to achieve the elusive gender principle.
The report has recommended the amendment of the Elections Act, 2011, to provide for the submission of party lists that comply with the two-third gender principle.
It has also recommended for establishment of the Women Inclusion and Political Participation Fund for purposes of financing education and training, mentorship and capacity building and support for women seeking elective positions.
Currently, there are a total of 21 female senators in the 67-member House.
Three were elected while 18 were nominated by various political parties.
In the National Assembly, 80 members are women out of the 349 lawmakers.
A total of 29 were elected from the 290 constituencies while another 47 were elected as County Woman Representatives while four were nominated by parties.