COMMISSION ON STATE OF WOMEN (CSW)2018.HELD IN NEW YORK ,USA BETWEEN 10TH MARCH AND 23RD MARCH 2018

ROLE OF WOMEN AS GOVERNANCE ACTORS

62ND SESSION ON THE STATUS OF WOMEN CONFERENCE
DATE; MARCH 12TH 2018 SPEECH
HON PURITY WANGUI NGIRICI. MP TWO-THIRDS GENDER PRINCIPLE, OPPORTUNITIES CHALLENGES AND THE ROLE OF RURAL WOMEN
The incoming new chairperson Her excellency Geraldine Nation, CS, Prof Margaret Kobia
H.E. Governor Anne Waiguru
H.E., Governor Dr. Joyce Laboso
H.E..Governor Paul Chepkwony
distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am delighted to be attending the 62nd session of CSW and being part of this brilliant panel discussing the role of women as governance actors and specifically, the two-thirds gender principle, opportunities challenges and the role of rural women
Equality between women and men is fundamental human rights principle that applies to all aspects of social life. In spite of this widely recognized and the accepted fact, women remain marginalized in nearly all spheres of life not just in Kenya but the world over.
In Kenya, however, we made a deliberate decision to embrace equality by passing the constitution of Kenya 2010. The Kenyan law with its many provisions ones on gender equality provides a framework through which women can be able to realize their full potential in every sphere of life.
As a country, we have made great strides in the fight for the equality of women in the country since independence, and while for some of us it may feel like the major battles have been fought and won there remains a large percentage of women who do not think the same way.
Kenya as a country suffers from the paradox where in2017 we have managed to elect the first three women and in which two of them are among us here today, H.E. Governor Anne Waiguru and H.E., Governor Dr. Joyce Laboso. Senators as well as having the highest number of 97 women parliamentarians in the country's history, and yet we sit in parliament that is however to achieve the two-thirds gender principle as prescribed by the constitution. With Kenya being a young democracy I believe its only a matter of when.
Further to this, we have a country that is made up of more than 51% women, and yet they are grossly under-represented in leadership and decision-making process. The varying differences in the situation of our women In Kenya underscore the Importance of this conversation had today
We can never achieve women empowerment without addressing the challenges that face our fellow women .Amonthem being gender discrimination against women in the plight of empowering those in rural areas.
I hope that by the end of this conference we will come up with solutions that aim to improve the welfare of our fellow women all over the world.let us all press for progress.
Thankyou

W.N WANGUI NGIRICI