SPEECH BY THE FIRST LADY OF KENYA, H.E.

MARGARET KENYATTA DURING THE INTERNATIONAL

WOMENS DAY CELEBRATIONS AT KICC, NAIROBI
ON 8TH MARCH 2016.
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
Firstly, Id like to thank you for participating in the Half
Marathon, as you saw, majority were women.
Today, we join the rest of the world in celebrating women
and their incredible achievements. We also come together
to remember women who have sacrificed of themselves
for a better world. Today, we reflect on opportunities and
struggles women face in pursuit of social and economic
progress.
50% of Kenyas population is made up of women. These
women wield incredible power; as wives and child bearers,
mothers, leaders, decision makers and workers. They
build homes, bring incomes, educate children, and silently
influence community decisions.
Where there is the threat of strife, they often seek peace.
Where there has been division, they usually encourage
reconciliation. The actions of women, measurable and
immeasurable, hold up half our society, half of our
country, and half, as one author put it, of the worlds sky.
Without women, Kenya would not be. The world could not
be.
But women also face incredible struggles, and this years
theme for peace is dedicated to women who have
experienced pain, turmoil, violence and tragedies.
Rape, female genital mutilation, domestic violence - all
remain a very real, daily threat to too many women in
Kenya and in Africa. Women, girls and children are
specially targeted as vulnerable members of the society.

Women are also targeted because of the powerful role

they play in society.
The irony is, that when a women suffers, the families
suffer, communities suffer, countries suffer and our world
suffers.
There is nothing homogenous about women; they are all
different: they come from different cultural backgrounds,
experience different personal realities, hold different
political persuasions, and adhere to different systems of
belief as a country, as citizens of the world, it is
incumbent on us to ensure that all women, irrespective of
race, religion or tribe, have a voice and can contribute
positively to the country to which they are citizens.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Among you are peace ambassadors like Tegla Loropue
from West Pokot who has worked tirelessly to heighten
awareness in her community. Or Naisula Lesuuda from
Samburu a peace crusader and anti FGM activist.
We recognise women civil society leaders, who work
collectively to lead peace building efforts that have
transformed the conditions of suffering at both individual
and collective levels. Im proud of you all, as you work
towards a more inclusive society.
Todays launch of the Strategic National Action
Plan, which is aligned to the United Nations Security
Resolution 1325, is implicit recognition that there is need
for inclusiveness, better coordination, accountability and
participation from key stakeholders in the area of peace.
I am therefore pleased to note that the Action Plan
recognises the importance of womens participation and
the need to increasingly use their influence to spearhead

peace initiatives for the benefit of the society. Excluding

women from any kind of community process - including
peacemaking processes - is saying no to progress and no
to true peace.
So, I thank you all once again for being powerful
advocates of peace, and for taking time to come together
to celebrate this special day. I urge us all to continue
striving for a peaceful world
Thank you and God Bless you all.