President Ruto Graces International Women’s Day Celebration In Embu

President William Ruto has appointed 10 women ambassadors and six deputies to mark the International National Women’s Day.

He said the appointments are part of the government’s efforts to appreciate the role played by women in nation building.

Speaking at Moi Stadium, Embu, during the ceremony to mark the International Women’s Day, President Ruto said the government will continue to support women in all spheres of national endeavour.

“This morning, I have appointed 10 more women as ambassadors in different parts of the world and another six deputy ambassadors in recognition of the contribution of women in the leadership of Kenya,” said President Ruto.

The Head of State pointed out that his administration was doing everything possible to ensure that women issues were given the seriousness they deserve.

“Our blueprint for radical national transformation must be underpinned by the imperative to facilitate the full engagement and robust participation of women in every dimension of our development agenda,” said President Ruto.

 He said the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda  recognises the unprecedented radical power in facilitating the full contribution of all Kenyans.

“In our Plan, we recognise the need to change the prevailing situation where female participation in key economic sectors remain minimal, with a vast majority of women who participate being consigned to low-income employment and enterprise, and under poor working conditions,” said President Ruto.

He said women were excluded in decision-making in governance and political institutions, while millions suffer or are vulnerable to sexual and gender-based violence.

The Head of State regretted that environmental degradation, pollution and climate change have complicated the lives and livelihoods of women, increasing their responsibilities in unpaid care work and thus accelerating poverty, early marriage, childhood pregnancies and other disadvantaged conditions.

President Ruto noted that through highly intentional actions, our Bottom Up Economic Transformation Agenda has prescribed a pathway to transform the conditions, contribution and participation of women in national development by deliberately eliminating every cultural, political, social and other excuse for treating women unjustly.

“To achieve this, we have to direct unprecedented investment in the promotion, inclusion and affirmative action for women in various sectors,”  the President said.

Noting that that the government has pledged to provide financial inclusion platforms, President Ruto said: “We undertook to provide financial inclusion and capacity building for women through the Hustler Fund, chamas, merry-go-rounds and table banking initiatives, and to take measures to protect them from predatory lending.”

He announced that the government has resolved to be highly intentional in actualising the constitutional gender inclusion principle, or the “one-thirds” rule at party policy level for elective representative positions.

Meanwhile, President Ruto emphasised his commitment to confront violence against women more directly, including the deployment of more staff at gender desks in police stations, and enhanced funding for the anti-female genital mutilation campaign.

He said the government was keen on upholding the dignity of girls and women, especially in learning institutions by providing menstrual hygiene products free of charge.

“We are going to mobilise every resource to protect our girls, our women, our daughters and our wives,” said President Ruto.

At the same time, President Ruto said the government has disbursed KSh942 million to 1.4 million women in 53,000 groups that are already accessing affordable financial facilities through the Women Enterprise Fund.

“Our approach towards inclusion is to accelerate progress. We have put our money where our words are, and the impact has been inspiring,” said President Ruto.

Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said measures have been put in place to eliminate illicit brews.

“We have put in place firm measures aimed at eradicating illicit brews and other poisonous alcohol,” said Mr Gachagua.

He said police have been directed to close all factories manufacturing poisonous brews that have destroyed the lives of many people across the country.

“I want to assure Kenyans that our focus is on poisonous alcohol and we will not interfere with the good ones,” the DP said.

Council of Governors Chairperson Ann Waiguru commended the government for promoting gender equality.

UN Women Country Representative Anna Mutavati praised the government for its tireless efforts in fighting gender violence.