International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global celebration that recognizes and applauds the achievements and contributions of women in various spheres of life. It is also a day to raise awareness about the challenges women face and advocate for gender equality. According to the World Economic Forum, given current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to achieve full gender parity. This year IWD’s theme was “Accelerate Action”; emphasizing the urgency and importance of accelerating efforts to eliminate systemic barriers and biases that impede women’s equality.
On the 7th of March 2025, KELIN joined the women in Kilifi South sub-county in marking the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) themed: “Accelerate Action”. The women held a procession walk from Mtwapa Police Station to Mtwapa Chief’s Camp where a dialogue on women’s rights took place. In her opening remarks, Ms. Elsie Milimu, KELIN’s Program Officer, highlighted the need for conversations on women’s rights to include intersex persons who are legally recognized in Kenya. She highlighted that the dialogue was timely given the invitation to submit memorandum by the Technical Working Group on Gender Based Violence including Femicide1.
Generational groups of women from the Gen Z, Millennials, Gen X and Boomers shared the journey towards equality highlighting discrimination and challenges faced in the quest for gender equality. In reflecting, the moderator, Ms. Jackline Waweru, the Director Leadership 4 Impact (L4I) highlighted how most advancements came in post the promulgation of the current Constitution of Kenya which guarantees the right to equality and freedom form discrimination. Some of the issues the women raised included the lack of support and mentorship for the youth to occupy leadership spaces; the need for more ambulance services to cater for women in labor especially in rural Kilifi; the need for more opportunities to be created locally in Kilifi to curb human rights abuses faced by immigrant domestic workers from Kenya and the need for the police to fully follow up on Gender Based Violence cases.
Further, on 08 March, during the IWD celebrations in Marereni, Magarini sub-county, Ms. Milimu, alongside other Civil Society Organization (CSO) representatives, highlighted the challenges to achieving gender equality to the Kilifi County leadership. The event was graced by notable dignitaries including Kilifi County Governor, H.E Maitha Gideon Mung’aro, Kilifi County Women Representative, Hon. Mwanyanje Gertrude Mbeyu and Hon. Gona Christine Zawadi, Kilifi County Senator. In acknowledging the gaps that persist in achieving gender equality and narrowing down to county efforts towards addressing this, the governor, H.E Maitha Gideon Mung’aro highlighted the integral advocacy role CSOs have played in ensuring increased access to sexual and reproductive health services. Notably, Kilifi County has procured an additional 9 ambulances and established 10 additional health centers.
KELIN leveraged on this opportunity to exhibit and distribute Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) materials on access to sexual and reproductive health rights showcasing our continued efforts to promote and safeguard health-related human rights for all. Many attendees visited our exhibition booth, eager to learn about our activities and advocacy work in Kilifi and across Kenya.
KELIN remains steadfast in the promotion and protection of women’s rights towards gender equality.
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Website: www.kelinkenya.org
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For more information please contact, Elsie Milimu,
Program Officer- SRHR, Kenya Legal & Ethical Issues Network on HIV/AIDS(KELIN),
Email: elsiemilimu@kelinkenya.org
