Female legislators across the region have been called upon to step up their efforts in advocating for women’s land rights and promoting climate resilience, as part of a broader push for gender justice.
Nominated MP Irene Mayaka said women leaders are in a strong position to drive the land equality agenda because the issue directly affects them and the communities they represent.
“Women parliamentarians serve as powerful agents of change in shaping legislative priorities that promote gender justice,” Mayaka said.
She made the remarks while representing National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss at the Regional Dialogue on Gender, Land, and Climate Resilience, organized by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD).
“As elected representatives, we have a constitutional and moral duty to make sure no one is left behind,” Mayaka added. “Our collective voice and persistent advocacy are key to breaking down barriers and achieving real gender equality.”
The high-level forum brought together women lawmakers, policymakers, experts, and development partners from IGAD member states to explore how gender, land governance, and climate adaptation are interconnected.
IGAD Head of Mission to Kenya, Dr. Fatuma Adan, said the regional meeting followed national-level dialogues held in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Uganda.
“These sessions aimed to empower women MPs to better champion gender issues in their lawmaking and oversight roles, particularly around land and climate resilience,” said Dr. Adan.
She noted that the forums helped identify key policy gaps, persistent challenges, and practical solutions to improve gender inclusion in land and climate policies.
The discussions brought together women MPs from parliamentary committees on land, agriculture, climate, and natural resources, alongside representatives from land authorities and women parliamentarians’ associations.
The dialogue also provided a platform to share experiences, evaluate progress, and map a joint strategy for gender-responsive land and climate action.
Kenya was represented by Rangwe MP Dr. Lilian Gogo, who praised the growing role of women legislators in addressing the needs of women and other vulnerable groups through lawmaking.
“Female parliamentarians in Kenya have been instrumental in expanding the legislative space to include the voices of women and marginalized communities,” said Dr. Gogo.
However, she stressed that more needed to be done and urged stronger partnerships between women leaders and civil society organizations.
“These partnerships are key to offering technical knowledge, boosting public support, and increasing the impact of gender justice initiatives,” she said.
Dr. Gogo added that women caucuses and gender-focused technical support units had proven effective in strengthening the role of women MPs and promoting gender-sensitive laws.
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