Tag: Gender

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Nakuru lauded for giving priority to matters Gender

Nakuru County has been lauded for giving priority to matters Gender.

Speaking in Nakuru on Friday, Public Service and Gender Affairs Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Rachel Shebesh noted that Nakuru has several number of Gender Based Violence Recovery  centres which is a plus in addressing gender issues.

The CAS who was on a supervision and fact finding mission on the COVID-19 Kazi Mtaani program called on other counties to emulate Nakuru on matters Gender.

“I have been informed by the Deputy Governor here that we have several recovery centres for GBV case and that is a good move. We call on counties to emulate Nakuru and set up a gender recovery centres” said Shebesh.

She said the move shows that Nakuru values issues to do with gender.

The CAS also revealing that the Ministry is now reaching out to counties on matters affirmative funds.

“The affirmative action fund, we are reaching out to county governments through the office of the county commissioner to ensure more women and youths take up these funds” she said.

According to her, the counties are more effective in ensuring women and youths secure the funds they are on ground.

She also challenged the counties to make good use of the media to ensure the country knows what Programs are running.

A year ago, a report was released in Nakuru on matters gender.

The report which focused on service delivery within Nakuru East and Nakuru West sub counties reveals various gaps in service delivery by the county government, with population for the analysis being drawn from senior staff of Nakuru and more so the Public Service Board.

During the launch of the report Gender, Culture and Social services Director Josephat Kimemia assured that the department will work to ensure issues of gender equality are promoted.

This has seen a great Collaboration for the enhancement of gender mainstreaming in the Nakuru County governance process.

There is the County GBV Technical Working Group made up of both state and non-state actors whose main mandate is prevention and response to sexual and gender based violence in the county through activities such as linkages, referrals and follow up of cases: activities which NGEC is intricately involved in.

Already, with the help of NGEC and other partners, the County GBV Technical Working group has been cascaded down to the sub-counties in form of clusters, with nine clusters having already been formed in Naivasha, Gilgil, Nakuru Town east, Nakuru Town west, Njoro, Molo, Kuresoi north, Kuresoi south and Bahati.

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New Gender report reveals numerous gaps in gender equality mainstreaming in Nakuru

A new Gender report released in Nakuru on Wednesday shows there are numerous gaps in gender equality mainstreaming at the Nakuru County Government in terms of service delivery.

Nakuru based Centre for enhancing Democracy and Good Governance-CEDGG in collaboration with other partners has released an audit report on service delivery in Nakuru by the county government.

The report which focused on service delivery within Nakuru East and Nakuru West sub counties reveals various gaps in service delivery by the county government with population for the analysis being drawn from senior staff of Nakuru and more so the Public service Board.

According to the findings in the report, the staff at the County Government of Nakuru has inadequate awareness of gender equality mainstreaming hence need for adequate sensitization.

It further indicates that that Nakuru County government has inadequate staff for managing Gender equality mainstreaming agenda.In addition, there are no clear plans and budgets for Gender issues.

“The Directorate of Gender is the driver of the gender agenda in the county yet suffers consistent negative budget reviews at the county level: There is need to allow the directorate opportunity to participate in budgeting activities to ensure gender responsive budgeting is in place” states the report.

Ms Njeri Muhia from Global Consultancy that partnered with CEDGG among other partners to come up with the Gender report says the county government of Nakuru should work closely with other partners in implementing the recommendations.

Among the recommendations in the report is the development, enactment and implementation of a county Gender mainstreaming and women empowerment policy, strategy and institutional framework.

The county through partnership has also to ensure that there is capacity building for gender mainstreaming and women empowerment.

“There should be the development, enactment and implementation of a county Gender mainstreaming and women empowerment policy, strategy and institutional framework” she said.

Similar sentiments echoed by Masese Kemunche from Centre for enhancing Democracy and Good Governance-CEDGG.

Nakuru Chief Officer for Gender, Culture and Social services Ms Tumme Abduba was represented by Director Josephat Kimemia who assured that the department will work to ensure issues Gender equality are promoted.According to Kimemia, the department will work closely with other partners to ensure the same is achieved.

“As a department will work to ensure issues Gender equality are promoted” said Kimemia.

PHOTO/Pristone Mambili:Masese Kemunche from Centre for enhancing Democracy and Good Governance-CEDGG addressing during the launch of the Gender Audit report.

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Operationalise Constitutional 2/3 principle, lobby group tells MPs

The two thirds gender Principle is a constitutional requirement and should be operationalized through the Bill before the national assembly.

Nakuru Based Midrift Human Rights Network Chief Executive Officer Mr.Joseph Omondi in an exclusive interview slammed MPs whom he says have a mission to do away with the Bill.

According to Mr.Omondi, since the Principle of 2/3 is constitutional, the only way to do away with it is through a referendum.

“The Bill should be operationalized since it is a Principle in our constitution. We cannot do away with the Bill before the house unless we go for a referendum” he said.

He said both genda are paramount for the development of the nation adding that research has shown that the two gender sitting together can deliver as far as good legislation and policies are concerned.

However, he is quick to note that female gender is yet to be fully embraced in the political arena and much has to be done to ensure such.

According to him, the constitution of Kenya 2010 was not negotiable and that the crisis being felt now is because of the poor process of nomination slots.

“The constitution of Kenya 2010 was not negotiable and the nomination process in meeting the gender requirement is what should be looked into” said Omondi.

He also took an issue with MPs over the Parliamentary Service Commission Bill 2018 that has elicited mixed reactions.

According to Omondi, Kenyan MPs are among the best paid legislators across the world and that is saddens when they say they deserve salary hike.

He noted that Legislature as an arm of government does not contribute to the growth of the economy to guarantee more resources to the Institution.

“It saddens when Kenyan MPs say they are underpaid. They are not special lot in our economy and as a matter of fact they do not even account for the numerous funds they have under their docket” he said.

He said the Constitution has mandated Salaries and Remuneration Commission with salary matters and MPs should respect that rather than coming up another commission for their salaries and remuneration as legislators.

He said as civil society groups they might be forced to move to court over the behaviors of MPs adding that the Parliamentary Service Commission Bill 2018 was not subjected to Public participation.

On the achievements of Civil society groups since independence, Mr.Omondi is categorical that there is need for more civic education since majority of Kenyans still sing the tune of politicians even when they do wrong in society.

He says many a times the civil society and lobby groups have tried to push for some policies but then the public will sit back instead of supporting such development.

“My perception is that a time there is apathy when you fight for masses but then they live you hanging. There is therefore need for more civic education” he said.

Photo/Ambole Okata: MIDRIFT’s Executive director Joseph Omondi.He wants MPs to operationalise the two thirds gender Principle.

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Nakuru gender Report to address gaps in service delivery, says consultant

A draft gender Audit Report in relation to service delivery by the county government of Nakuru is at its validation stage.

The report was done after a research carried out by Global Consultants Ltd in partnership with the Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good governance-CEDGG,Legal Resources Foundation, Nakuru Residents Associations, and County government of Nakuru.

The Report through its findings and recommendations is aimed at improving service delivery in Nakuru by coming up with a coherent gender policy to address the gaps in service delivery in Nakuru county.

The report focused on various areas among them; Poverty reduction and economic empowerment, Access to equal and quality education and training, access to quality and affordable health, violence against women/ gender based violence, as well as equitable Participation in power and decision-making.

Other areas are; Institutional mechanisms for gender equality, gender and human rights, strengthening gender equality through media, gender mainstreaming in environmental conservation, and Girl/Boy child.

The report in its recommendations is proposing the need to develop, enact and implement gender mainstreaming policy through the gender department and county assembly of Nakuru as well as capacity building for gender mainstreaming and awareness.

Ms Njeri Muhia-lead consultant at Global Consultants Ltd which played key role in coming up with the report says the report is paramount in gender mainstreaming, implementation of the current County Integrated Development Plan-CIDP and all the policies.

She says the survey was carried out for a period of 7 months interacting with all stakeholders in various departments as well as public on the gender mainstreaming as a requirement from the national government.

“In coming up with the report, a survey was carried out for a period of 7 months interacting with all stakeholders in various departments as well as public on the gender mainstreaming as a requirement from the national government” said Ms Muhia.

According to Ms Muhia, the report is paramount for the county government of Nakuru as it will assist in the review of the Gender Bill that is before the county assembly towards streamlining gender based activities in Nakuru.

With the formation of a technical working group on the same, Ms Muhia stated that they will now move with speed to sensitize the county executive as well as the county assembly on the need to implement the same.

“We have formed a team at the end of the day that is going to generate a roadmap for moving the gender mainstreaming forward. Next step is to sensitize the executive and the county assembly on why we should be able to implement the gender mainstreaming as is required of us” she said.

Similar sentiments echoed by Nakuru County Director Gender Department Ms Alice Gikonde  She lauded the move saying it will help a lot in addressing gender issue within the county through a gender policy.

“This is a paramount step in addressing gender issues within the county” said Ms Gikonde.

Masese Kemunche from Centre for Enhancing Democracy and Good governance who spoke on Friday during a workshop on the same commended the County government of Nakuru for collaborating through gender and social department.

While noting that Gender was a global issue, the CEDGG  Programs Manager was categorical that formulation of coherent gender policy would play key role in addressing gender issues surrounding service delivery in Nakuru County.

“Gender is a global issue and the formulation of coherent gender policy would play key role in addressing gender issues surrounding service delivery in Nakuru County” said Masese.

Earlier on during her opening remarks, Nakuru County Chief Officer Gender, Youth, Culture and Social Services Ms Tume Abduba noted that gender parity was still a challenge not only in counties but also in National government.

She however lauded the report saying its findings will inform decisions at the county level.While noting that a Bill drafted in 2014 at the county assembly has never been passed, Ms Abduba stated that is shall be reviewed and the policy on gender will be key.

She also called for need to sensitize the executive on the issues of gender so that special fund can be set up to help in addressing gender issues.

“Bill drafted in 2014 at the county assembly has never been passed but we hope with this development it shall be reviewed, passed and implemented.

The workshop was also attended by Nakuru County assembly committee on Gender who vowed to work closely to see to it that the gender policy is in place.

PHOTO/KMYDO:CEDGG  Programs Manager Paul Masese Kemunche addressing workshop to validate a draft gender Audit Report in relation to service delivery by the county government of Nakuru.

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