Kenya’s Parliament has marked a major step in strengthening gender-responsive governance following the graduation of ten women legislators from the Parliamentary Practices Mainstreaming Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) Programme.
The course, jointly offered by the Centre for Parliamentary Studies and Training (CPST) and Canada’s McGill University, is part of a growing partnership that began in 2016 and has since produced flagship programmes in parliamentary governance and institutional reform.
The graduation ceremony, presided over by National Assembly Deputy Speaker Gladys Boss, highlighted the transformative role of women leaders in shaping national policy. Delivering the Speaker’s message, she described the GEWE Programme as an “incubator of equitable and progressive governance,” noting that the training equips lawmakers to advance inclusive legislation.
Reflecting on her own leadership journey, Boss said the challenges she faced entering public life fuelled her determination to champion gender issues.
She emphasised that women leaders legislate for the entire society and called for gender mainstreaming conversations to extend beyond Parliament to every sector of society.
The eleven-week virtual programme, delivered between May and August 2025, blended global best practices with Kenya’s parliamentary context. It provided practical skills in gender-responsive policymaking, institutional reform, and community-centred legislation.
CPST Board Chairperson Hon Rachael Ameso Amollo commended the legislators for completing the intensive training while balancing professional and family commitments. She affirmed the Parliamentary Service Commission’s focus on ensuring a safe, inclusive working environment for all lawmakers.
Ameso also underscored the importance of integrating Artificial Intelligence into parliamentary training to support informed decision-making.
She described the programme as more than a certification, calling it “a call to action” for the graduates to continue championing gender equality in their legislative roles.
Those who completed the programme include Senators Joyce Korir, Veronica Maina, Tabitha Mutinda, Agnes Muthama, Hamida Kibwana, and Esther Okenyuri, along with Hon Beatrice Elachi, Hon Martha Wangari, Hon (CS) Irene Mayaka, and Hon Sabina Chege.
The CPST says it will continue strengthening its programmes to build inclusive, modern and globally competitive parliamentary institutions.
