United Nations Development programme (UNDP) in partnership with the County assembly of Vihiga has trained various women in the area in a bid to promote their participation in active politics.
UNDP programmes officer Mary Njoroge said the move is to ensure more ladies are engaged in political decision-making in the country.
She said the ladies have formed a caucus in Vihiga County that will help them to share political challenges, needs, solutions, and ideas that will empower them to engage in nation building.
“We aim to empower the women in all perspectives by reducing gender inequality in political seats that are currently dominated by men,” said Njoroge.
She added that the African Human Development report 2016 established that economic cost had risen because more ladies were not integrated into the economy.
She said the UNDP as an organization is improving access to credit facilities, affordable health care and reducing poverty among women for sustainable development.
Njoroge was speaking during the launch of Vihiga women caucus at Rodies hotel in Luanda Sub County.
The meeting saw women aspirants, political leaders, professional and non-professionals gather at a one-day training after other several meetings had been undertaken at various Sub Counties.
County secretary and head of public service Lynette Abdalla who attended the meeting said ladies are critical in efficient and effective leadership.
“This is an initiative to promote women rights and address their needs. They must be involved in decision-making in the country,” said Abdalla.
She added that they are hoping that the county assembly members will advocate for laws that are beneficial to ladies in terms of governance and capacity building.
Several MCAs who attended the meeting included Gladys Analo, Maurine Ambasa, Jenipher Ekhuya among others. They all advocated for laws that will champion women rights.