Page 7 - February 2025 Newsletter

Positioning Youth Voices in National Gender

Policy Conversations

Kenya’s gender equality agenda entered a defining moment with the
convening of the first bi-annual National Gender Sector Working Group
(NGSWG) meeting in Nairobi, an important step in strengthening cross-
sector collaboration and accountability in gender-responsive
governance.

At the time of the meeting, Hon. Musalia W. Mudavadi was serving as
the Acting Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts, and Heritage,
following the rejection of Stella Langat’s nomination by the National
Assembly Committee on Appointments. No replacement had yet been
arranged, leaving the ministry without a full Cabinet Secretary. This
leadership gap sparked concern among stakeholders, particularly
considering the rising cases of femicide and the urgent need for a well-
coordinated national response to gender-based violence (GBV).

Africa Youth Trust (AYT) made a strong impression at the forum,
showcasing survivor-led innovations and youth-driven advocacy. At our
display table, we featured products made by beneficiaries of the Access
to Justice and Security (AJS) program, as well as AYT publications and
resources. We were honoured to host several high-level guests,
AYT Communications Officer Mr. Kelvin Njai interacts with UN women-Kenya representative Ms. Antonio
including H.E. Pirkka Tapiola, Finland’s Ambassador to Kenya & Co- Sodonon
Chair of the NGSWG, H.E. Roberto Natali, Ambassador of Italy to Kenya,
Anne Wangombe, Principal Secretary for Gender and Affirmative Action,
Antonia Sodonon, UN Women Kenya Representative among other
distinguished development partners and state actors

Secretary to the Cabinet Mercy Wanjau, speaking on behalf of Hon.
Musalia W. Mudavadi, opened the meeting with a recognition of
Kenya’s recent gains in promoting gender equality through policy and
legislative frameworks that prioritize inclusivity and equity. She
spotlighted two pivotal policies nearing finalization:
-The National Care Policy, which seeks to recognize, reduce and
redistribute unpaid care work
-The National Policy on Women’s Economic Empowerment, which aims
to create equitable access to economic opportunities for women
Mudavadi’s statement called these “groundbreaking guidelines”
intended to close the gender gap and improve the well-being and
dignity of all Kenyans. He also emphasized Kenya’s progress in
women’s political participation, referencing the Multi-Sectoral Working
Group report that outlines proposals to achieve the “not more than two- A section of the panelists in a discussion during the meeting.
thirds” gender principle in both elective and appointive leadership.
For AYT, this space was provided an opportunity to elevate the realities
and resilience of young women survivors, particularly those in informal
settlements, and to reiterate our commitment to intersectional, youth-
led solutions. Through our advocacy via the Young Urban Women
Movement, we also engaged directly with taskforce members guiding
the National Care Policy, championing the inclusion of youth
perspectives.
During the discussions, feminist advocate Ms Wanja spoke powerfully
on the lack of leadership in the ministry, saying: “We don’t even have a
Cabinet Secretary. We have someone who was nominated but was
never sworn in. That shows how low of a priority this issue is for the
government.” Her statement reflected a shared frustration in the room
and reinforced the urgency for strong, accountable leadership in the
gender sector. Spaces like the NGSWG really matter. AYT will keep
pushing for better policies and systems that include young people and
put survivors first.
AYT staff actively engages the panelists during the meeting.