KEPSA Chairperson Ms Flora Mutahi, KEPSA Director of Governance and Leadership Ms Catherine Musakali and KEPSA Foundation Executive Director Ms Gloria Ndekei, participated in the National celebrations of the International Women’s Day that was spearheaded by the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), Nairobi. The theme for this event was, ‘DigitAll: Information, and Technology for Gender Equality’.

Gracing the occasion was His Excellency William S. Ruto, PHD., CGH, the President of the Republic of Kenya. Other Dignitaries present at the forum included the Deputy President, H.E. Rigathi Gachagua; the Second Lady, Pst.  Dorcas Rigathi; Chairperson, Parliamentary Committee, Social Protection, Hon. Alice Ng’ang’a; the Director–General UNON, Ms Zainab Bangura; the US Amb. to Kenya, Meg Whiteman; the Chairperson, Council of Governors, Hon. Anne Waiguru; Cabinet Secretary for Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action, Hon. Aisha Jumwa, and Nairobi Governor, H.E. Johnstone Sakaja, among others.

Speakers at the forum took to recognize and celebrate the milestones of Kenya as a country in the achievement of Gender Equality through increasingly having more women attain elective and appointive positions, and appreciating the President for walking the journey with women in the political space that demonstrate commitment to advancing Gender Equality and Women Empowerment and political goodwill on the women agenda.

Despite the progress made, it was noted that gender-based inequalities continue to persist such as Kenya has not actualized the implementation of two-third Gender representation, and the full implementation of Access to Government Opportunities (AGPO) among women, youth, and persons with Disabilities. Further, the need to adopt and utilize technology as a pathway for economic growth was emphasized as it provides immense opportunity for all-around inclusive development.

Ajira Digital Program under KEPSA Foundation took to showcase its contribution to gender equality through innovation and technology. It hosted one of its partners, Chuuza, a digital platform that connects users with competent and certified domestic and personal services such as nannies, cleaners, and beauticians.

The President expressed his commitment to championing the actualization of the Two-Third Affirmative Bill that will ensure that more women take up leadership roles. Further, to empower women who are the backbone of the economy in the country, the President launched the following products that include;

• Women Enterprise Fund online platform that seeks to eliminate bureaucracies and intermediaries that bar women from accessing loans, removal of the 45-day waiting period to ensure instant cash disbursement upon loan request, and the increased fund from Ksh. 4.5B to Ksh. 13.5B annually to increase the number of women groups benefitting from the fund. So far over 97,000 women groups are benefitting and the fund has registered 99% success.
• In addition to the Hustler Fund that was launched in 2022, the President has launched the Individual Micro-enterprise Loan product that will target individual businesses to access Ksh 10,000 to 200,000 instantly through *254# accessible on all mobile phones. 

The President further committed to empowering women to access, afford and use clean energy through the elimination of taxes on gas to reduce cost, reduced cost of gas cylinders from Ksh. 2800 to Ksh.500, and cubing illegal gas-filling businesses by registering and licensing gas-filling companies. The president took cognizance that 70% of Kenyan women use charcoal and firewood which has adverse health effects on about 99% of those who use it.