SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY HON. UHURU KENYATTA, C.G.H.

, PRESIDENT AND
COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE DEFENCE FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA
DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE NAIROBI +30 AND LAUNCH OF TWOTHIRDS GENDER PRINCIPAL CAMPAIGN, KENYATTA INTERNATIONAL
CONVENTION CENTRE, NAIROBI, 13TH AUGUST, 2015
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is an honour to welcome you all to Nairobi +30. Our work, over the last four decades
since the First World Conference on Women was held in Mexico in 1975, has been
rewarded with major achievements.

Women now hold major leadership positions right across this continent. That advance has
been matched by unprecedented economic empowerment.

We gather in celebration and recognition of our gains, while appreciating that far more
needs to be done, as indicated in the recent review of the implementation of the Beijing
Platform for Action.

Let me also mention that todays meeting commemorates the Third World Conference on
Women held here in Kenya in 1985. Then, as now, Kenya was a leader in gender equality.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

One of the basic aims of the Africa Unions Agenda 2063 is achieving people-driven
development by placing gender equality at the core of our development agenda. That is
why Africa prioritized five key areas: Health, Education, Economy, Peace and Security, and
Agriculture. In truth, these resolutions capture the basic view of the continent about how
best to proceed in such a grave matter.

But before I say more on these grand topics, let me repeat the importance of gender equity
in achieving our vision of a free and prosperous continent. Research shows that
development cannot be rapid and resilient, unless it is also inclusive and equitable. It must
respect the dignity of all by involving them closely. Given that half of humanity are women,
their empowerment is a must, not an option.

To put it bluntly: no gender equity, no development. Gone, then, are the days when these
issues could be taken lightly or glossed over.

Gone are the days when empowering women was viewed as a favour to our women. An
attempt to make us look good. More than anywhere else in the world, our African women
must be given the prominence that they so rightfully deserve.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The global review of the Beijing Platform noted that progress in the empowerment and
involvement of women has been slow and uneven across the globe.

Major gaps remain, including structural barriers in implementing the 12 critical areas of
concern. Indeed, 20 years after the Fourth World Conference on Women, no country has
fully achieved gender equality.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Here in Kenya, we have made a deliberate decision to break away from the old habit of
exclusion. We have embraced equality for women. With the promulgation of the
Constitution of Kenya (2010), we committed ourselves wholly to equality.

As President, it is my obligation to protect the constitution of Kenya. That means

defending, among others, its provisions on gender equality.

Now, the constitution imposes a duty on the State to use legislative and other measures
including Affirmative Action to realize gender equality.

Within one election cycle here in Kenya, womens representation in Parliament has risen
from 9.9% to 25%.

Kenyas current Cabinet consists of 31% female Ministers, 6 out of our 18 Cabinet
Ministers are female, and their portfolios range from Defence, Devolution and Planning, to
Trade. At county level, women account for 6% of elected members of county assemblies.
Although there is no female Governor, female Deputy Governors make up 19%, while
more than a third of County Commissioners are women.

In the Judiciary, the Deputy Chief Justice and the Chief Registrar of the Judiciary are
women.

The Supreme Court consists of 28.6% of women while the Court of Appeal consists of 30.8
% women. In the High Court, 40.7% are women. This means that the gender threshold has
nearly been met in the senior levels of the Judiciary. In constitutionally mandated National
Commissions, women lead four of the 10 Commissions.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

My Government has initiated several economic empowerment programmes for women,
youth and persons with disabilities and in this regard, my Government has begun lifechanging initiatives by providing catalytic funds to Women through a Women Enterprise
Fund, a Youth Enterprise Development Fund for the youth, as well as our UWEZO Fund
for women, youth and persons living with disabilities.

Kenya has also introduced a 30% Public Procurement Preference for women, youth and
persons with disabilities. My Governments procurement accounts for as much as 30% of
the countrys GDP, which translates into a minimum of USD 2.2 Billion per year worth of
business. Since the inception of this initiative in June 2013 the Government has allocated
over Kshs 15.6 Billion worth of tenders to these groups, a majority of whom were women.

This amounts to Kenyas most ambitious empowerment initiative yet, and it is proof of my
Governments commitment to our women, youth and persons with disabilities.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We all have a role to play in the development of our societies and every citizen, whether
male or female, deserves the opportunity to contribute to their society. Our progress is
inextricably linked: we will rise together or not at all. Any delay in the empowerment of our
women is a delay in the development of the nation.

We can chose to live in the past or we can forge ahead to create the future. We have
chosen a future of equality. My duty as President is to lead Kenya to the day when
womens inclusion and gender equality are settled, uncontested facts.

On behalf of the citizens of the Republic of Kenya, then, I take this opportunity to extend a
warm welcome to you all and wish you fruitful deliberations.
Thank You.