Rachel Ruto launches 5-year strategic plan to empower Nyanza women

Women nationwide have been called to take up leadership roles and empower each other at the grassroots level to bridge the gender gap in all sectors.

First Lady Rachael Ruto who attended the launch of the Professional Association of Nyanza Women (PANY) 2024-2028 Strategic Plan on Friday said women play a critical role in national development.

The Nyanza women association has members from the six counties in the region who have teamed up to empower each other.

The First Lady, who donated Ksh.1 million to the association, asked women professionals from Nyanza to invest in helping boys and girls from poor backgrounds in the region access better education to improve their livelihoods.

“We can mobilize resources and implement targeted interventions to allow women to achieve their full potential. This will help reduce poverty experienced in many rural communities which will combine with a high level of dependency leaving families with little disposable income for investment,” she said.

The leaders present congratulated the Nyanza women professionals, urging women across the country to replicate and join hands in fighting poverty and issues affecting the community.

“Women must be deliberate and intentional in coming together to share their skills, expertise and experiences. The association has the potential to amplify the women's voices and to bring meaningful changes to Nyanza to the nation and at the global level,” said Deputy President’s Spouse Pastor Dorcas Rigathi.

ICT CS Eliud Owalo added: “Moving forward as a country, we need to appreciate and accept the fact that the women of this country will no longer play a peripheral role in the social development of Kenya, the woman must be at the orthocenter of every initiative in this country.”

The Professional Association of Nyanza Women is focused on development issues across the six Nyanza region counties to bring change in society.

“We are now on the frontline redefining the true meaning of sustainable development agenda for our region with the focus on healthcare, education, agriculture, climate change and financial inclusion,” said PANY Chairperson Betty Adera. 

Council of Governors (CoG) Chairperson Anne Waiguru added: “As we celebrate the achievements of Nyanza women, we must also look to the future; we must recognise that their success is not just their own but a victory to all women across Kenya and beyond. Indeed we are challenged so start similar bodies elsewhere.”

“Government can only do so much, there is quite a bit that we can also do from our perspectives informed by the skills, expertise and competencies that we have within our professional disciplines to also contribute,” CS Owalo noted.

The association was launched in 2023 and has more than 2,000 members across the Nyanza region.