Economic Planning Principal Secretary James Muhati has revealed plans by the government to put in place initiatives that will promote gender equality, and facilitate economic empowerment for persons with disabilities, youth, and women by increasing access to credit and entrepreneurship opportunities.
According to PS Muhati, initiatives such as access to government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO) will help facilitate enterprises owned by persons with disabilities, women, and youth to be able to participate in government opportunities.
PS Muhati made these remarks during National Council for Population and Development (NCPD) celebrations to mark World Population Day which aimed at unleashing the Power of Gender Equality to Unlock Kenya’s Infinite Possibilities.
According to the Kenya Agency News report, Muhati described gender equality as equal rights, responsibilities, and opportunities for women, men, girls, and boys and is essential in achieving peaceful societies, with full human potential and sustainable development.
According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, the percentage of female population in Kenya was 50.31% compared to 49.69% male population, while the population of boys aged 0-18 years was 50.47% compared to girls at 49.53%.
Muhati added that there has been a notable gender wage gap, with women earning less than men for comparable work, where the average monthly earnings for women were Sh12,166 compared to men at Sh18,594.
“Gender-based violence has been acknowledged worldwide as a violation of basic human rights. The 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) show that 41% of women and 36% of men who have ever had an intimate partner reported having ever experienced economic, emotional, physical, or sexual violence by their current or most recent intimate partner,” Muhati voiced.
The PS highlighted that girls are less likely than boys to complete secondary education often due to early marriages, adolescent pregnancies, and domestic work.
The PS further added that the country is committed to ending Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) by strengthening coordination in the area of legislation and policy framework, communication and advocacy, evidence generation, and supporting cross-border collaboration on the elimination of FGM.
“Women and girls represent half of the world’s population, hence the need of mentoring girls to pursue Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) as well as trade specialization including the digital and green economy,” said Muhati.
He explained that the country is preparing to launch the Fourth Medium-Term Plan 2023-2027 of Kenya’s Vision 2030.
At the same time, the Director General of NCPD Dr. Mohamed Sheikh said that 11th July is a day designated by the United Nations (UN) as a day to commemorate world population day and is marked as to educate the public on key population concerns, progress, and achievement.
NCPD is a semi-autonomous government agency under The National Treasury and Economic Planning mandated to coordinate the implementation of population and development programs and policies in Kenya.
The Council is the national focal point for leadership and guidance in matters relating to population and development.
“Some of the strategic objectives aligned to the Council’s mandate include enhancing public education and advocacy, coordinating the implementation of population policies and programmes, integrating population variables in development planning at the national and county level, and strengthening capacity in research, data analysis and visualization,” Dr. Sheikh noted.
SOURCE: KNA