The Western Twaweza Empowerment Campaign-Kenya (WETEC-Kenya) has intensified efforts to empower young women to take up leadership positions through mentorship, capacity building and advocacy for safe political spaces.
The organization says the initiative is aimed at increasing women’s participation in governance, promoting accountable leadership and creating an environment where women can pursue leadership opportunities without intimidation or discrimination.
Speaking during a leaders and young women forum organized by WETEC-Kenya in Busia County, Executive Director Immaculate Amoit said the organization has been equipping young women with leadership skills while connecting them with experienced female leaders who can inspire and mentor them.
Amoit said the programme has so far trained 300 young women from Nairobi, Nandi, Busia, Vihiga and Homa Bay counties, providing them with opportunities to learn from women already serving in leadership positions.
“We want to ensure we prepare our young women to take up leadership through training. We have trained 300 young women from Nairobi, Nandi, Busia, Vihiga and Homa Bay counties. We are giving them an opportunity to interact with women already in leadership, share experiences and motivate them to pursue their leadership aspirations,” she said.
She noted that despite progress in promoting women’s participation in governance, many women aspiring for leadership positions continue to face intimidation, humiliation and discrimination, causing some to abandon their ambitions.
“We have witnessed women aspiring for leadership being humiliated in different spaces, leading some to give up. Through these forums, we are advocating for safer political environments that provide women with equal opportunities to compete and lead,” she added.
Busia County Deputy Governor Arthur Odera commended WETEC-Kenya for promoting women’s leadership, saying empowering women was essential in achieving inclusive development and strengthening governance.
Odera observed that countries that have embraced women’s participation in leadership have recorded improved governance and social outcomes, adding that women’s contributions have a positive impact when they are given opportunities to serve.
“Across the world, the potential of women has not been fully harnessed. Where women have been given leadership opportunities, the evidence shows they make society better. Their impact is always significant when they are given the chance to serve,” he said.
However, he noted that gender-based violence, harmful cultural beliefs and negative stereotypes continue to discourage many women from seeking leadership positions.
“The threat of gender-based violence, including physical, emotional and verbal abuse, prevents many women from realizing their full potential. Some withdraw out of fear while others are discouraged by the perception that women cannot be effective leaders,” said Odera.
Nandi County Deputy Governor Dr. Yulita Mitei said deliberate measures to implement the two-thirds gender principle had increased women’s representation in leadership and public service in her county.
Dr. Mitei said women now account for more than 55 per cent of the public service workforce in Nandi, demonstrating that women have the ability to lead effectively when provided with opportunities.
“We have worked hard to ensure the two-thirds gender rule is observed. This clearly demonstrates that women can lead and deliver,” she said.
She urged Kenyans to elect leaders based on their vision, competence and integrity rather than gender, saying leadership should be judged by performance and ideas.
“Leadership is not about physical strength. Let us judge leaders by their ideas, experience and vision instead of dismissing someone simply because she is a woman,” she said.
Dr. Mitei challenged women to believe in their leadership potential and take advantage of available opportunities to inspire future generations of female leaders.
Teso South Deputy County Commissioner Ruth Lorete assured aspiring women leaders of the government’s commitment to protecting them from all forms of violence, including cyberbullying, as the country approaches the election period.
She said security agencies were working with communities to create awareness, strengthen reporting mechanisms and address violence targeting women seeking elective positions.
“We are committed to ensuring everyone enjoys their rights in a safe environment. We are engaging communities to raise awareness and strengthen mechanisms for reporting and addressing all forms of violence against women, including online harassment targeting those seeking elective positions,” she said.
By Salome Alwanda and Rodgers Omondi
