Investing in women key to Kenya’s sustainable growth, group says 

Civil society organisations in Kisii have called for increased government investment in women, saying it is essential for Kenya’s sustainable development.

Speaking during celebrations to mark International Women’s Day on Saturday, the groups urged the government to strengthen collaboration with grassroots organisations and expand opportunities for women in economic, social and leadership spaces.

Stella Achoki, the chairperson of the organisations, said empowering women is not only a matter of equality but also a long-term investment that benefits entire communities.

“Women continue to experience challenges such as gender-based violence, femicide, defilement and teen pregnancies. These vices must be addressed to ensure women are fully empowered,” Achoki said.

She acknowledged that the government has made notable progress in advancing women’s rights, particularly in education where more girls are transitioning through the school system. However, she stressed that more needs to be done to achieve full gender equality.

Also speaking at the event, Kisii South Deputy County Commissioner Grace Ouma highlighted several government initiatives aimed at strengthening gender equality.

She noted that institutions such as the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action and the National Gender and Equality Commission play a key role in promoting gender mainstreaming across sectors.

Ouma also pointed to the constitutional framework supporting gender balance in leadership.

She cited Article 27 of the Constitution of Kenya (2010), which provides that no more than two-thirds of members of elective or appointive bodies should be of the same gender. However, she noted that women currently occupy only about 23.7 percent of seats in the National Assembly of Kenya.

“As we mark this day, we must address the structural barriers that continue to hinder women from achieving their full potential,” Ouma said.

She added that national development frameworks such as the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda and Kenya Vision 2030 prioritise women’s empowerment as a key driver of inclusive economic growth.

Stakeholders said that investing in women through education, protection from violence and expanded economic opportunities remains critical to building a more equitable and prosperous society.