•You pledged that a two-thirds gender rule will be implemented within the first three months of his administration.
•This is not a matter of age and gender but about good governance, fairness, equity and gender balance in political leadership.
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Dear H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, CGH. President of the Republic of Kenya and Commander-In-Chief of the Kenya Defence Forces
Your Excellency, during this year’s #16DaysOfActivism, we highlight the need to support the Women in leadership agenda and enforce Kenya’s two-thirds gender rule.
While campaigning you made several promises to women as outlined in your manifesto and even entered into a direct agreement in the Alliance’s Women Charter that you signed at Nyayo Stadium.
One of the key promises outlined in the charter is that you will give women 50 per cent of the cabinet slots.
You pledged to make women equal partners in your government, saying they would be the face of your Government’s Administration.
You pledged that a two-thirds gender rule will be implemented within the first three months of his administration.
Your Excellency, young people under 35 years in Kenya constitute 75% of the Kenyan population, according to the 2019 Census results, yet no one is below 35 years in your cabinet.
Young people occupy less than 30% of elected and appointive bodies in the National Parliament.
This underrepresentation is even more apparent when it comes to young women, who make up half of the youth population in Kenya.
The country’s median age is 19, making Kenya one of the world’s most youthful countries in the world. This means youth’s influence on National politics will continue to remain limited as they continue to occupy a back seat with respect to critical decision making in public affairs.
Your Excellency, implement the GEF commitments and Institutionalize the multisectoral GEF Leadership structure consisting of the National Advisory Committee, the National Steering Committee, and the County leadership structure to guide the implementation of Kenya's GEF Commitments in the GBV Action Coalition up to 2026.
If implemented well, these commitments could truly move the needle towards government policies that deliver for Kenyan citizens.
They raise the potential for more inclusive and participatory governance where citizens contribute to creating solutions that impact public service delivery and close the developmental gaps we are witnessing.
Your Excellency, it is time to honor your pledges and commitments. By enforcing the constitutional requirement on Articles 81 and 100 and GEF commitments, you will promote the participation and inclusion of marginalized groups of women, youth, persons with disabilities, ethnic minorities and marginalized communities.
This is not a matter of age and gender but about good governance, fairness, equity and gender balance in political leadership.
Mr President, women are more than half of the human capital available to reduce poverty and achieve economic development, yet exclusion from decision-making processes, social and cultural norms, access to employment opportunities and gender-based violence among others combine to undermine their human rights, social stability and security, public health, well-being and development prospects of communities.
Tap into young people’s creativity, innovation, energy and dynamism that is driving the private sector. Young people want the opportunity to lead today, not tomorrow.
Thank you Sir!
Truly Bina Maseno, Gender, Governance and Development Specialist,
Ms. President, Nairobi County [email protected]
&
Daddie Marto Media Personality, Actor, Tech Influencer & Consultant.
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