Inclusive decision-making is inevitable to achieve more sustainable leadership: Kenyan delegation tells the Great Lakes Conference

Thursday, April 24, 2025. Luanda, Angola.

We must create space for all voices to be heard in the decision-making to achieve accountability and equity in leadership, a Kenyan delegation has told a regional conference.

The delegation drawn from the Kenyan National Assembly and Senate told the Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR), that this was the only way to achieve sustainable and inclusive leadership that is responsive to emergent challenges.

The delegation led by Senate Speaker the Rt. Hon. Amason Kingi spoke during the Assembly Plenary of the FP-ICGLR at the National Assembly of Angola which is hosting the 15th Ordinary Session of the Conference.

Mandera Senator Ali Roba, who read Speaker Kingi’s speech noted that Kenya had made tremendous strides in the attainment of inclusivity in different spheres of leadership, but cautioned that a lot still needed to be done to expand and sustain the same across the region. 

“The Parliament of Kenya remains committed to supporting inclusive leadership, gender parity and sound governance through a multi-pronged approach that addresses legal, social, economic, and institutional barriers,” noted Senator Roba.

He added: “In Parliament, our women leaders now hold an array of leadership positions that they have effectively and selflessly leveraged to champion progressive legislation on gender-based violence, reproductive health, and economic empowerment, among other matters.”

The senator noted that several bottlenecks still continue to chock the clamour for the elimination of gender biases and discrimination in leadership due to unfavourable cultural stereotypes.

“We have to eradicate gender stereotypes and cultural barriers and also use political platforms to advocate change of attitudes and challenge patriarchal norms,” he said.

Senator Roba also stressed the commitment of the Parliament of Kenya and indeed the Kenyan Government to ensure gender mainstreaming across all Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) through the establishment of gender desks or units within institutions to monitor and support inclusivity.

Other Members of the delegation are Nyeri Senator Wahome Wamatinga, Nominated Senator HezenaLemaletian and Buuri MP Hon. Mugambi Rindikiri.

The Conference ends on Friday, April 25, 2025.

#13thParliament

#FPICGLR