Prof. Kobia hosts AGA Award dinner event

Cabinet Secretary, Prof. Margaret Kobia hosted a dinner event on Tuesday night in honour of H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta who received the Africa Gender Award 2022.

His Excellency received the award from the Gender is my Agenda Campaign Network (GIMAC) at an event ceremony held at State House, Nairobi.

GIMAC also awarded the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) in the private sector category and the Centre for Rights Education and Awareness (CREAW) in the civil society category respectively for their role in the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment in Kenya.

In her keynote remarks, Prof. Kobia lauded President Uhuru’s continental recognition as well as KEPSA and CREAW for putting Kenya on the map yet again.

“We are proud as a nation, we are proud as women of Kenya, these awards are as a result of the tremendous effort, collaboration and partnership we have in addressing gender equality and women empowerment,” said Prof. Kobia.

Ms Betina Diop, the African Union special envoy on Women Peace and Security congratulated President Uhuru Kenyatta, KEPSA and CREAW for receiving the prestigious award.

“You have done a wonderful job, you have touched and impacted the lives of women, girls and boys, you deserve this honour and we are proud of you,” said Ms. Diop.

Oh her part, State department for Gender, Principal Secretary Prof Collete Suda underscored the fact that team work between various players in the gender sector is the reason Kenya managed to scoop the awards.

“This is the best time for a woman in Kenya because everything is happening now, this occasion marks the beginning of greater things for the women, Prof. Suda said.

Under His Excellency’s leadership, Kenya achieved eleven out of twelve operative articles of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA). The award is based on three thematic indices namely HIV Index, Education Index and Gender Parity Index.

The African Gender Forum is a gender platform for the women of Africa to forge their own strategic path regarding relevant actors and partners whilst the African Gender award serves as a mechanism to monitor and reward an African Head of State or Government who has demonstrated outstanding achievement in promoting gender equality and development within the thematic areas of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa.

The Award is based on country performance measured by the scientifically developed Solemn Declaration Index, SDI and the SDI score card. The SDI) was initiated by GIMAC (Gender is My Agenda Campaign) with the leadership of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Union Commission (AUC).

In the past the Award, recognized every 2 years, an African Head of State or Government for showing an outstanding contribution to Gender Parity. The African Gender Forum & Award is accompanied by two other in-country recognitions: to a member of the Private sector that promotes gender equality in the economic spheres; and to a women’s organization among the civil society for its commitment to mainstreaming the gender agenda.