Kilifi, FIDA partner to champion gender equality

The County Government of Kilifi has partnered with the Federation of Women Lawyers in Kenya (FIDA-Kenya) to tackle gender inequality in resource distribution.

The three-year partnership, Governor Amason Kingi’s administration said, is aimed at realising Sustainable Development Goal 5 – Gender Equality.

FIDA-Kenya Coast regional coordinator Ms Fida Ilham Isham said the programme will train county officials on gender mainstreaming.

“Our aim is to ensure we have a gender responsive programme and the resources cater for the needs of both genders,” she said.

Speaking in Kilifi during a gender mainstreaming training attended by representatives from all county government departments, Ms Isham said they want to change the misconception that gender only has to do with issues relating to women.

Gender mainstreaming

“Gender is about what men and women propose,” she said.

“We have trained them on gender mainstreaming and we are looking forward to working with the county to ensure gender aspects are realised in all departments.”

Ms Isham said the pilot programme under the SDG Kenya forum is being undertaken in six counties that include Baringo, Kitui, Kisumu, Kajiado, Nakuru and Kilifi.

He lauded Mr Kingi for ensuring his cabinet has 50 per cent representation of women, adding that this led to realisation of the Mbegu Fund programme aimed at supporting small-scale farmers in the county.

“Our aim is to ensure counties understand what SDG 5 is about and incorporate it in leadership, political, economic and socio-economic aspects,” she added.

Community role

Ms Agneta Karembo, a gender officer in Kilifi, said through partnership with FIDA-Kenya, they are equipped to champion gender equality.

“We have seen gender gaps in some of the programmes coming up. Some do not favour women because of the role they play in the community,” she said.

Ms Karembo noted that the training will help programme officers and policymakers come up with policies that will address issues at the gender level.

She said they have trained the policymakers, county executive members and chief officers on gender and budgeting to ensure budgets are gender-sensitive.

“The misconception has been that gender is under the docket of gender department, those in roads, trade, tourism, agriculture departments need to understand gender dynamics in their fields to enable planning,” she said.

Positions of influence

Mr Francis Nyapenda, a trainer on gender issues, said there is need to strike a balance in men and women representation in positions of influence. He said there are women who have risen to top positions by virtue of their ability which means they are able to perform equally like men.

Mr Nyapenda said women should be given positions by virtue of their performance and not gender. He said the Judiciary has led by example of enabling women to take up positions of leadership because of their ability.

''It's only in politics where positions are dished out to women but in other sectors, women work for their positions,'' he added.

Mr Felix Kalama, a participant at the training, said more programmes at the grassroots level will enhance gender equality.