Archives February 2022

NAIROBI, 9th February 2022 (PSCU) – First Lady Margaret Kenyatta today at State House Nairobi witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Beyond Zero and the Kenya School of Government (KSG) establishing the Margaret Kenyatta Institute for Gender and Social Development.

The MoU signed by the KSG Director General Professor Ludeki Chweya and Beyond Zero Coordinator Angela Langat paves the way for the creation the new institution located at KSG’s main campus at Lower Kabete.Speaking at the ceremony, First Lady Margaret Kenyatta said the collaboration between KSG and Beyond Zero had opened a new opportunity for the two organization to jointly promote Kenya’s gender and social development agenda.

“The Memorandum of Understanding we have signed today strengthens the collaboration between our two organizations. This document creates an opportunity for us to jointly play a significant role in promoting our work on issues related to Kenya’s gender and social development agenda,” said the First Lady.

She said the MoU would enable the two institutions to undertake activities that will provide support for women to contribute effectively in the attainment of national and global development goals.“This MOU allows us to jointly utilize our collective knowledge and experience; to apply research, promote innovation, develop training and deliver outreach programs that will address issues that enable progress for our women,” said the First Lady.

The First Lady commended the Ministry of Public Service, Gender, Senior Citizens Affairs and Special Programmes for supporting her office in its efforts to advance Kenya’s Vision 2030 by ensuring women access opportunities to thrive.The MOU was counter-signed by KSG’s Director of Administration Dr. Josephine Mwanzia and the Chief of Staff in the First Lady’s Office, Ms. Constance Gakonyo at the function attended by Attorney General Justice Paul Kihara Kariuki whose office provided legal oversight and guidance in the formulation of the MoU between the two entities.

Public Service Cabinet Secretary Prof. Margaret Kobia said the establishment of the institute at the KSG will strengthen capacity building in the public service, provide solutions to challenges of gender nature and also serve as a rich resource for the School and other learning institutions. Prof. Kobia pointed out that the collaboration between the two institutions will mutually support the national development agenda under Vision 2030, the Big 4 Agenda, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.

“All these broad aspirations touch on healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, climate change, inclusive development, gender parity and protection of the rights of persons with disability, women and children with special mention to the welfare of girls. What this means, Your Excellency, is that the work you have been involved in touches people’s hearts,” Prof Kobia said.

KSG Director General Prof. Ludeki Chweya thanked First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for accepting KSG’s request to name the institute after her and to become its patron. Prof. Chweya noted that the signing of the MOU marks a turning point in the already flourishing partnership between Beyond Zero and KSG.“The framework will henceforth guide our two institutions to achieve closer collaboration and beyond this, fulfil jointly agreed upon activities and programmes all of which seek to improve the social life of our citizens,” Prof Chweya said.

He said the MOU for collaboration between Beyond Zero and KSG will enable the two institutions to work together in identifying specific areas for actions touching on training, research, consultancy, policy advisory services and community outreaches.The ceremony was also attended by and Chief Administrative Secretaries Rachael Shebesh and Jebii Kilimo among other senior government officials.