REPUBLIC OF KENYA

STATEMENT
BY:
ANNE WAIGURU, OGW
CABINET SECRETARY MINISTRY OF DEVOLUTION AND
PLANNING AND HEAD OF DELEGATION OF KENYA
TO
THE
59TH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON THE STATUS OF
WOMEN (CSW)

UN HEADQUARTERS NEW YORK

10th MARCH 2015

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Distinguished Delegates,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Madam Chair,

I thank you for giving me the floor. I take this opportunity to

congratulate you on your election as Chairperson of the
59thSession of the Commission on the Status of Women and
assure you of my delegations support. My delegation aligns itself
with the statement delivered by South Africa on behalf of the
Group of 77 and China, as well as the statement delivered by
Sudan on behalf of the African Group.
Madam Chair,
Twenty years ago, in 1995 , the world took a bold
adopting the

stand in

landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for

Action. The Declaration set the stage for addressing Gender

Equality and the Empowerment of women. Since then, a lot has
changed in the world. Remarkable progress has been achieved.
However,

women

around

the

world

still

face

formidable

challenges. This anniversary is a historical moment for us to act

decisively and make unequivocal commitment to intensify our
efforts in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration. We
therefore welcome the Political Declaration we adopted yesterday
which sets the stage for our collective efforts to advance the
status of women.
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The recently adopted set of Sustainable Development Goals

provides great optimism for the future of women. The standalone
goal of Gender Equality and women Empowerment as well as
integrating Gender across a number of other goals underscores
the importance of women and girls in development, politics as
well as economic and social evolution.
Madam Chair,
Kenya is proud to have provided leadership to this important
process, as co-chair of the Open Working Group on Sustainable
Development

Goals

and

currently

as

co-facilitator

in

the

intergovernmental negotiations on the Post-2015 Development

Agenda
I reaffirm the Government of Kenyas commitment to Gender
Equality and the Empowerment of Women, and in particular the
implementation

of

the

Beijing

Platform

for

Action.

The

Constitution of Kenya (2010), our Vision 2030, and existing

legislation and policies speak to the twelve critical areas of
concern

in

the

Beijing

Declaration.

But

beyond

this,

the

Governments agenda for women is premised on an unwavering

political will and conviction that empowering women is key to the
development of our nation.
Madam Chair,

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Kenyas implementation of the Beijing Platform of Action is on

track.
On Women, the Economy and Poverty, the Government is
disbursing essential capital to finance business opportunities for
women through a Women Enterprise Fund, a Youth Enterprise
Fund, as well as an Ability Fund equivalent to USD 240 million
since their inception. This will include an annual allocation of USD
65 Million.
Under the leadership of H.E. the President of the Republic of
Kenya Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta, the Government instituted an
affirmative action policy for women, youth and persons with
disabilities in public procurement.

Under this policy, the

Government has set aside at least 30% of public procurement to

this category translating to a minimum of USD 2.2 Billion per
year worth of business from the Government to these target
groups. From June 2013 to date the Government has registered
over 54,000 enterprises under this programme. Over 6,000
companies have already received business from Government in
the first 3 quarters. This is creating real opportunities for these
businesses to grow, from small to medium, and from medium to
larger companies.
On Education Kenya has surpassed the 115% Primary School
Gross Enrollment Rate following introduction of the Free Primary
Education policy. Girls represent 51% and boys 49%, of the total

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enrolments. Further, the elimination of tuition fees at public

secondary schools increased girls enrolment in secondary school
by 42% from 685,000 in 2009 to 977,000 in 2013.
On Health the Government in 2013 introduced free maternity
services in public hospitals and as a result we have recorded a
50% nationwide increase in hospital deliveries, from 444,000 in
2012 to 666,000 in 2014.
Madam Chair
In regard to Women in Power and Decision Making; The
Constitution of Kenya stipulates that a minimum of one third (1/3)
of either gender must be represented in all the elective and
appointive positions. Towards this end, the Kenyan Cabinet is
composed of 33.3 percent women, holding key cabinet
positions, as Ministers of Foreign Affairs and International Trade;
Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development; Ministry of
Defense, Ministry of East Africa Community and Tourism; Ministry
of Environment, Water and Natural Resources; and Ministry of
Devolution and Planning. Today, women in Parliament form 25%
of elected representatives, up from 9.9% in 2007, a significant
improvement achieved within one election cycle.

In the public

service women comprise 37% of all positions.

Madam Chair,
H.E. the President Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta has been at the forefront
of championing gender equality and empowerment of women.

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This began with positioning the Institutional Mechanism for

the Advancement of Women, within the Presidency, with staff
deployed to every Ministry and at the county level. To further
reiterate this commitment, H.E the President championed the
HeforShe Campaign by being the Second President in Africa to
publicly sign and commit to it.
Madam Chair,
In conclusion, we welcome the designation of the Year 2015 by
the African

Union as the African

Union

Year

for

Women

Development and Empowerment towards the achievement of

Agenda 2063. Kenya reaffirms its commitment to the full
implementation of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action,
I thank you

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