Nairobi — In a resounding affirmation of Kenya’s commitment to gender equality and peacebuilding, the country has officially launched its Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security (KNAP III 2025– 2029), coinciding with the 25th Anniversary of UN Security Council Resolution 1325.
The landmark event, themed “Women Lead, Peace Follows,” took place at the Emara Ole Sereni Hotel, Nairobi, drawing together representatives from government ministries, development partners, civil society, and international organisations. The gathering underscored a renewed national resolve to place women’s leadership at the centre of peace and security policy.
Convened by the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, the State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, and the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, in collaboration with diverse stakeholders, the forum reflected Kenya’s growing recognition that sustainable peace cannot be achieved without the full participation and protection of women and girls.
In her keynote address, Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Hon. Hannah Wendot, who served as Chief Guest, delivered a rallying call for inclusive leadership in peacebuilding processes.
“Women’s leadership and participation are indispensable to achieving sustainable peace,” she said. “KNAP III builds on the progress of the last two action plans by deepening women’s involvement in peacebuilding, preventing and responding to genderbased violence, and integrating gender perspectives across all sectors of governance and security.”
The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), which participated in the launch, welcomed the plan as a pivotal step in achieving inclusive peace. The Commission noted that advancing women’s leadership in conflict prevention and peacebuilding directly aligns with Kenya’s constitutional vision of equality and human rights.
The launch of KNAP III comes at a moment of reflection and renewal for Kenya’s WPS agenda. Over the past two decades, the country has made notable strides in recognizing women as peacebuilders from mediating local conflicts to leading national dialogues.
