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.