•County Gender Sector Working Group Sets 2025 Agenda to Tackle Gender Inequality and Social Challenges
Uasin Gishu County is taking decisive steps to integrate gender mainstreaming into its development agenda, with a focus on addressing critical social issues affecting the community.
The County Gender Sector Working Group (CGSWG) has set an ambitious plan to resolve gender-related concerns by 2025, ensuring a healthier, more peaceful society that fosters economic prosperity, justice, democracy, and sustainable development.
Government’s Commitment to Addressing Gender Issues
During the first gender meeting of 2025, held at the County Commissioner’s Boardroom in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County Commissioner Dr. Eddyson Nyale emphasized the urgency of addressing Kenya’s “triple threat”—the intersection of HIV, gender-based violence (GBV), and teenage pregnancy.
He highlighted that the government has a strategy in place to eliminate these challenges by 2027 and reaffirmed the commitment of government agencies and stakeholders to working collaboratively using a whole-society approach.
Dr. Nyale stressed the importance of prioritizing the youth, as they are the most affected by these issues. He also pointed out a concerning trend: the decline in the empowerment of the boy child.
He announced plans to conduct a comprehensive study in collaboration with the University of Eldoret and local administrators to assess the challenges boys face, including declining confidence, reluctance to marry, and increasing suicide rates.
“I am very keen to understand why the boy child is lagging behind. Why is he shy and less confident compared to the past? We need to find out what happened and how we can address this issue,” Dr. Nyale stated.
Coordinating Multi-Sectoral Efforts for Gender Equality
The meeting also focused on aligning the work plans of various agencies within the CGSWG, including the State Department for Gender, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), the County Department of Health, Civil Society Networks, and Rural Women Peace Link (RWPL).
The goal is to streamline activities and ensure that gender-related concerns receive the necessary attention and resources.
A key highlight of the meeting was an evaluation of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign observed annually from November 25 to December 10.
Benedine Kipruto, Chairperson of the Civil Societies Network in Uasin Gishu, reported that the county had exceeded expectations in raising awareness and mobilizing action against GBV.
Gender Mainstreaming Across Economic Sectors
Tecla Biwott, County Director for the State Department of Gender and Affirmative Action, reaffirmed the department’s commitment to ensuring gender mainstreaming in key sectors such as agriculture, trade, cooperatives, transport, infrastructure, and housing.
She underscored the importance of observing international gender-related days, including International Women’s Day, International Day of Rural Women, and International Widows’ Day, to foster awareness and policy engagement.
The county also plans to initiate discussions on gender statistics, promote awareness of land inheritance rights among men and women, and provide entrepreneurship training for widows.
Additionally, youth, women, and Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) will receive capacity-building training on accessing government procurement opportunities through the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) program.
Enhancing Legal Awareness and Protection Against Domestic Violence
As part of its efforts to strengthen legal protections, the CGSWG intends to increase public awareness of the Protection Against Domestic Violence Act, 2015.
This law safeguards victims of domestic violence, including spouses, children, and dependents, and ensures their rights and well-being are upheld.
By implementing these initiatives, Uasin Gishu County is positioning itself as a leader in gender mainstreaming, ensuring that social and economic development is inclusive and sustainable.
The collaborative approach among government bodies, civil society, and development partners is expected to drive meaningful change, ultimately improving the quality of life for all residents.
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