REPUBLIC OF KENYA

THE PRESIDENCY
OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY PRESIDENT

CLOSING REMARKS BY MS ANNE WAIGURU, OGW, CABINET

SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF DEVOLUTION AND PLANNING
AT THE NAIROBI +30 CONFERENCE AT THE KENYATTA
INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION CENTER, NAIROBI,
13TH AUGUST, 2015

Honorable Ministers and Cabinet Secretaries from the African

Union Nations,
Members of Parliament,
Principal Secretaries Present
Development Partners,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We as a county have been greatly honoured to have had the opportunity to

host all the different countries, in marking 30 years since the International
Womens Conference. Reflecting back on the journey that has been for
African countries, has been truly inspirational, and it reaffirms to all of us
that the strength of women, is the backbone of our economic progress as
nations.

As His Excellency the President highlighted this morning, the Government

of Kenya, means business when it comes to the gender agenda. We dont
take it lightly. It is a conviction that we hold that making gender equality
and womens empowerment a reality, is paramount towards achieving
sustainable development. It is for this reason that we have put in place
policies and programmes aimed at doing just that.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In 2010, Kenya ushered in a new era with a progressive Constitution that
was decades in the making.

As a culmination of efforts which were

initiated years ago and now, with a progressive Constitution, women are
playing a bigger role at the decision-making table in Kenya. The gains that
have been hailed in the Constitution for women should be protected and
upheld, and it is for this reason that I support H.E the President in the

championing the implementation of the not-more than 2/3rd gender

principle, in all elective and appointive positions.

In Kenya, there is a realization that women cannot do this on their own.

For far too long, the agenda for gender equality has been driven primarily
by women. As a country we have said, this needs to change, and it is for
this reason that we as the Jubilee government leadership have taken the
drivers seat on this agenda. To demonstrate this, His Excellency the
President, was among the first African President, to sign onto the HeforShe
Campaign, signaling a break from the past, and enlisting men to support
gender equality and womens empowerment. We need to do whatever it
takes to win over and bring along as many women and men as possible,
whether it is due to their belief in fairness or the realization that equality
generates better outcomes for all, we need to leverage all our collective
efforts and ideas in moving this forward.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Women are a competitive advantage for sustainable economic growth. The
Global Gender Gap Report lists Kenya as 9th overall in Economic
Participation and Opportunity. When we imagine what we have been able
to accomplish this tells us that womens economic empowerment is a
critical part of Kenyas rising story. As we reflect, we need to ask ourselves,
what more can we accomplish and how much faster can we do it if we

harness womens energies and talents in economic and leadership

pursuits? Here in Kenya, we plan to find out!

However, we are cognizant that the pace of achievement of gender

equality has been slow, and in some cases we have even stagnated. It is
therefore imperative for us to review our strategy and approaches, and ask
ourselves difficult questions. We need to accelerate the pace towards the
achievement of gender equality. Gender inequality is not a Kenyan problem
alone, but a global one, which requires innovative strategies and practical
local application that moves us beyond the promise, to reality. I want to
encourage a strategic impatience in terms of our journey to gender
equality. If 20 years after Beijing, we are still struggling with some of the
fundamental equality issues, then we need to revise our strategy.

This is not to say that we have not as a global community, made progress
on the issues of gender equality and womens empowerment, we have
indeed made significant progress. It is not to say that we should abandon
these international forums where we chart progress and gains and ensure
we remain on track, but we need to set a fresh proactive agenda.

Do we want to realize gender equality in our lifetimes or bequeath to our

daughters the struggle? That is the fundamental question we face. Not as
activists or politicians or leaders but as individuals. We need to decide how
quickly we want gender equality realized and then strategize with an end in
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mind. We seem to have become complacent with an in principle

agreement to gender equality but in practice, status quo. power
concedes nothing without demand. I say this not as criticism, but as a
chance to pause and reflect on how we can push beyond the current
stagnation to practical realization of gender equality.

Finally, Ladies and Gentlemen,

We all have a role to play, both men and women, in expanding the space
for womens leadership and helping to realize gender equality.

Constitutions could enshrine womens rights in Law which is important,

however theres need to move beyond Laws and International Treaties and
Conventions, to ensure women are living the promise of equality.

As such, I call upon all men and boys to become champions and allies in
the struggle for gender equality. This is the heritage we can leave for our
Mothers, Sisters, Daughters, Women and Girls.

I take this opportunity to thank you once more for your participation,
shared vision and commitment.
With this, I wish you all, success in your endeavors and pleasant stay in
Kenya. Thank You!