Lodwar: The spouse to Turkana Governor Ms. Lilian Ekamais has called for the formulation of policies that promote gender equity in the county. Speaking during celebrations marking International Women’s Day in Lodwar town, Ms. Ekamais criticized policies that limit women’s rights and opportunities and emphasized the need to empower women.
According to Kenya News Agency, the two-day conference brought women leaders, community groups, and stakeholders together for roundtable talks on issues affecting the female gender. The participants resolved to embark on deliberate initiatives to promote women’s rights. Ms. Ekamais stated, “We need to promote policies that support gender equality in employment and economic participation as a step toward empowering women.”
The County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Trade, Cooperative, Youth, and Gender Affairs, Roseline Aite, called for multi-faceted efforts to drive civic engagement and address patriarchy while protecting gender values. CECM Aite emphasized the need to transform community perspectives on women’s roles through both political and non-political actions. She added, “We must highlight the need to advance gender equality by listening to the voices of women and girls and taking concrete action.”
Pauline Lokuruka, Director of Echami a Ito Association, commended the county government and its partners for hosting an event that celebrated women’s achievements while acknowledging the need for inclusive leadership to bridge gaps in equitable governance.
The Chief Officer for Gender and Youth Affairs, Joseph Epuu, underscored the importance of actively engaging women and improving their societal status through education, equality, and economic empowerment to build an inclusive community. Ekai Nabenyo, Director of Legal Services, highlighted the legal aspects of gender disparities, emphasizing recognizing gender identity, enforcing laws against domestic abuse, and protecting workplace rights to advance women’s rights and gender equality.
Resolutions and action plans will be developed from these discussions to guide future engagement and implementation efforts. Senior county government officials who attended the event included Chief Officer for Trade and Cooperatives Pauline Tangarae, County Attorney Ruth Emanikor, and Directors Linus Ekidor (Youth Affairs) and Mollen Onderi (Gender Affairs).
