IGAD Delegation Engages NGEC in Talks on Gender Equality and Leadership

Nairobi, Kenya— The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) welcomed a high-level delegation from the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) for a courtesy visit, fostering critical discussions on advancing gender equality and women's empowerment. The engagement, attended by NGEC Chairperson, Commissioners, and the Chief Executive Officer, underscored the shared commitment to breaking barriers that hinder women’s full participation in leadership, economic empowerment, and societal transformation.

The discussions centred on three key themes: empowering women to recognize their worth and potential, tackling gender-based violence, and creating leadership opportunities for women to take their rightful place in society. These pressing issues, which remain at the heart of sustainable development, were addressed through data-driven insights, policy recommendations, and a collaborative approach to regional solutions.Gender disparities continue to limit opportunities for women and girls in various spheres of life, from education to economic participation.

The IGAD delegation and NGEC leadership explored strategic interventions to boost women's self-worth and agency, emphasizing education, skills development, and financial inclusion as key drivers of empowerment. Research by the World Bank indicates that closing gender gaps in economic participation could increase Africa’s GDP by up to 10% by 2025, making gender equality an economic imperative as well as a human rights issue.

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical human rights concern in Kenya and across the IGAD region, with reports showing that one in three women experience some form of violence in their lifetime. The meeting highlighted the urgent need for strengthened legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and survivor-centred approaches to address GBV.

IGAD and NGEC underscored the importance of community-driven interventions, increased funding for GBV prevention programmes, and cross-border collaboration to curb the prevalence of violence against women and girls. Women’s participation in leadership and decision-making processes remains significantly low, despite constitutional and policy frameworks advocating for increased representation. The discussions reinforced the necessity of creating enabling environments for women to ascend to leadership roles in governance, corporate spaces, and civil society.

Kenya’s 2010 Constitution mandates a two-thirds gender rule, yet women's political representation falls short of this threshold. The meeting called for renewed efforts in mentorship, affirmative action policies, and political will to bridge this gap.

The IGAD delegation and NGEC leadership reaffirmed their commitment to a collaborative approach in tackling gender inequalities across the region. They explored opportunities for knowledge-sharing, policy harmonization, and joint initiatives to accelerate progress in gender mainstreaming. As discussions concluded, the parties underscored the need for sustained engagement to transform commitments into tangible action.

The visit highlighted the pivotal role of regional partnerships in addressing gender inequalities and ensuring that women across IGAD member states have the opportunity to thrive in safe, inclusive, and empowering environments. With shared resolve, the momentum generated by this engagement is poised to drive substantive change in gender equality across the region.

NGEC Chairperson Hon. Rehema Jaldesa, Commissioner Caroline Lentupuru, and Commission Secretary/CEO Dr. Purity Ngina pose with IGAD Secretariat Gender Department, led by Dr. Fatuma Adan, IGAD Head of Mission to Kenya.