The National Gender and Equality Commission-Kenya

EMPOWERED WOMEN, INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP AND STRONGER NATIONS.

Today, the Commission joined fellow leaders and key stakeholders in celebrating the election of Hon. Rahab Mukami as President of the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) Women’s Caucus ,a remarkable achievement that reflects the growing recognition of women’s leadership.

The celebration brought together distinguished leaders including Governor Anne Waiguru, Governor Susan Kihika, Senator John Kinyua Wamatinga, Senator Veronica Maina, MP Irene Njoki and MP Eric Wamumbi, among others, in recognizing this milestone for women’s representation and leadership in Africa.

As a country, we must remain committed to the full implementation of the constitutional principle that no more than two-thirds of elective and appointive positions should be occupied by one gender. This calls for continued advocacy towards the election of more women leaders, the protection and strengthening of affirmative action seats, and the creation of inclusive political spaces that enable women to participate meaningfully in leadership and decision-making.

When women rise, nations progress. Inua mama,Jenga Taifa!

Tune in and join in the conversation tomorrow as Douglas Wawire from our Nakuru Regional Office joins panelists at Radio Amani 89.1 fm. morning talk show, 8:00a.m-9:00a.m to mark the International Day of Families 2026 under the theme: "Strong Families, Peaceful Communities".

The discussion will explore the role of families in fostering peace, social cohesion and inclusive communities.The conversation comes ahead of the actual observance day on Friday, 15th May 2026.

The Commission today conducted a Legal Aid Clinic at Kondele Social Justice Centre in Makogilo Area, Kisumu Central Sub-County, reaffirming its commitment to promoting equality, inclusion, human dignity, and access to justice for all, particularly Special Interest Groups.

The clinic provided residents with an important platform to report and seek redress on critical social justice concerns affecting their communities, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), intimate partner violence, defilement, sexual abuse against children, and land and succession disputes issues that continue to disproportionately affect women, children, vulnerable families, minorities, and marginalised groups. Complaints raised during the engagement were documented, legal guidance provided, and referral and redress mechanisms initiated to support affected persons in accessing protection, justice, and essential support services.

The Commission recognises the important role played by social justice centres in strengthening grassroots awareness on human rights, equality, non-discrimination, peaceful coexistence, and community accountability.

The Commission remains committed to strengthening collaboration, referral pathways, and community-based interventions to ensure survivors and affected persons can access timely support, justice, and protection, while advancing a society founded on equality, freedom from discrimination, and respect for human dignity.

BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS TO ADVANCE CHILD PROTECTION AND DATA PRIVACY.

Recognizing that partnerships are essential in protecting vulnerable members of society, the Commission led by Desire Njamwea today joined the Wangu Kanja Foundation in a courtesy visit to Geoffrey Mosiria KE Nairobi County Chief Officer for Citizen Engagement and Customer Service.

The engagement provided an opportunity for the delegation to underscore the importance of partnerships and multi-sector collaboration in addressing issues affecting children and survivors of violence. The members present noted that meaningful partnerships between public institutions, civil society and communities are key to strengthening prevention measures, enhancing access to justice, and ensuring the protection and wellbeing of vulnerable groups.

The discussions further stressed the need to protect the dignity and privacy of children and survivors by discouraging the circulation of their images and personal details on social media and other public platforms.

As a stop gap measure we urge citizens to stop circulating images of the minor, as children are vulnerable groups that require much care and protection.We call upon all citizens to report similar cases to ensure justice is served, survivors are rescued from perpetrators who perpetuate the heinous acts and guaranteeing their safety and wellbeing.

STRENGTHENING INCLUSIVE LEADERSHIP AND NATIONAL COHESION

Today, the CEO hosted Mr. Harrison Wangoro, Director of BioVax Limited Institute and Convenor of the Mt Kenya Leaders Caucus, for a high-level engagement on leadership, governance, and national cohesion.

The meeting explored strategic opportunities to strengthen the participation of women in leadership and decision-making spaces, while also emphasizing the critical role young people must play in shaping the country’s political, social, and economic future.

The two leaders reaffirmed the importance of inclusive leadership, unity of purpose, and empowering emerging voices as key pillars in building a stronger, more cohesive, and progressive nation.

Today, we were pleased to welcome the IGAD delegation led by IGAD Gender Manager, Amina Xubbi Farah, in Garissa.

The delegation paid a courtesy call to the County Commissioner’s office ahead of a capacity-building workshop focused on advancing women’s leadership in refugee governance, decision-making, and recovery processes.

The engagement brings together key stakeholders to strengthen understanding of refugee protection frameworks, promote gender inclusion, enhance women’s leadership, and address barriers limiting women’s meaningful participation in governance and humanitarian response initiatives.

STATEMENT ON POLICE RECRUITMENT AND TRAINING

Read the full statement by NGEC Chairperson Hon. Rehema Jaldesa on recent concerns surrounding police recruitment, training discontinuations, constitutional compliance, equality, and policy reforms within the security sector. https://www.ngeckenya.org/blog/statement-on-police-recruitment-and-training/10744

The Eastleigh Voice (@Eastleighvoice) on X

The Commission conducted a comprehensive sensitisation session on Sexual Harassment in the Workplace for the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner bringing together staff and senior management through both physical and virtual engagements.

The session provided an important platform to strengthen awareness of workplace safeguarding, leadership accountability, fair and confidential complaint-handling mechanisms, and the promotion of respectful, inclusive, and harassment-free working environments.

Discussions highlighted that workplace sexual harassment remains a significant barrier to employee wellbeing, equality, mental health, and meaningful participation in the workplace. Fear of retaliation, stigma, abuse of authority, and weak reporting structures continue to contribute to underreporting, leaving many affected employees vulnerable and unsupported.

The engagement further underscored the responsibility of institutions and leadership in fostering workplace cultures grounded in professionalism, accountability, respect, and the protection of human dignity. Safe workplaces are essential not only for employee wellbeing, but also for productivity, institutional trust, and organisational integrity.

The Commission continues to support institutions in strengthening workplace safeguarding frameworks, enhancing awareness, and promoting environments where all employees can work free from harassment, discrimination, intimidation, and fear.

WOMEN LEADERS ACROSS AFRICA CONVENE FOR THE PAWO MEETING IN LUANDA, ANGOLA
NGEC Chairperson Hon. Rehema Jaldesa is participating in the Pan-African Women’s Organization (PAWO) Meeting in Luanda, Angola, alongside women leaders from across the continent to advance Africa’s shared agenda on gender equality, inclusive leadership, women’s rights, peace-building, and socio-economic empowerment.
Founded in 1962, PAWO remains Africa’s oldest continental women’s movement and continues to play a pivotal role in promoting the participation and leadership of women in governance and development across the continent.
Kenya’s participation reaffirms the country’s commitment to strengthening women’s leadership and advancing equality and inclusion for women and girls in Africa.

ENSURING ACCESS TO JUSTICE AND EQUALITY AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL.

The Commission today participated in a Legal Aid Clinic held at Kiserian Market, Kajiado County in collaboration with Ombudsman Kenya and other stakeholders involved in human rights protection and legal services.

The outreach provided members of the public with an opportunity to receive legal guidance, information on their rights and support on various justice and equality concerns affecting communities.

The engagement further strengthened collaboration among institutions and stakeholders working to promote human rights, equality, and access to justice at the community level, while ensuring that citizens are informed about available legal and protection mechanisms.

Through such community-based engagements, the Commission continues to strengthen public awareness, bridge information gap and promote active citizen participation in matters of rights, equality, and access to justice of vulnerable and marginalized groups across the country.