Two United Nations officials on Friday met with the Second Lady, Dorcas Gachagua to discuss her national agenda for the country.
During the meeting, Special Representative of the UN secretary general on Violence Against Children Najat Maalla and UNICEF Representative in Kenya Shaheen Nilofer expressed interest in collaborating with the Second Lady in her work.
The two said they were keen to support the Office of the Spouse of the Deputy President's vision of ‘A Dignified Future for Vulnerable Populations’ which includes the boy child, widows, orphans, and persons with disabilities.
Dorcas shared broadly different aspects of her vision that included rescuing the boy child lost in drugs and substance abuse.
She referenced the meeting on Friday in Nyeri where Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua convened the administration, political leaders, and other actors to explore and strategise on ending the sale and consumption of illicit brews, and drug abuse in the region.
"The government is meeting today in Central Kenya to reduce and, hopefully, eliminate drug and substance abuse in the region. I am happy that the voice against these addictive substances is being amplified to include all leaders, and we will, ultimately, save a generation," Dorcas said
Maalla, who has been involved in the protection of vulnerable children for more than three decades said "sexual exploitation and violence against boys is more difficult to report, but cases are many, and care must be exercised when handling them.”
Maalla commended Dorcas for the people-to-people agenda she is pursuing and urged for community involvement and engagement to ensure the sustainability of the programmes.
Dorcas pointed out that to end Female Genital Mutilation, male engagement and inclusion were paramount.
"Male champions can educate other men on the dangers of FGM, and consequently, they will not demand to marry a ‘cut’ woman. This would significantly reduce FGM or end it in totality," she said.
Nilofer said Dorcas was an important voice to restore sanity and added that the interventions were addressing real concerns.
