BEIJING, June 21 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment as it joins other nations in commemorating the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Speaking at the Beijing+30 Action Agenda convened in Beijing, Kenya’s Deputy Ambassador to China, Lynette Mwende Ndile, highlighted the country’s position as a global leader in promoting women’s rights and inclusive development, tracing its efforts back to hosting the 1985 UN Conference on Women in Nairobi, ten years prior to the pivotal Beijing Conference in 1995.
“Kenya has been at the forefront of leading the conversation with our stakeholders on gender equality, advancing women’s rights and the agenda of women’s economic empowerment,” stated Mwende.
She stated that Kenya continues to build on these early milestones through constitutional protections and representation, notably the establishment of the Woman Representative position in every county, which has amplified women’s voices in governance.
The diplomat underscored the symbolic and strategic significance of Kenya partnering with China to mark three decades since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration.
“It was very important for us to celebrate this milestone together with China, having commemorated the Beijing Conference 30 years ago,” she remarked. “Thirty years ago, you could easily count women leaders, but today we have the most progressive action, enshrined in the constitution of Kenya where we have a Woman Representative in every county.”
Mwende, a young woman in STEM and a trained engineer, stressed the importance of youth—especially women—in driving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), pointing out that digital transformation is a key priority in Kenya’s gender equality agenda.
“The Beijing Platform for Action has provided us with 6 priority action areas for our collective work. The time is now to ensure we attain the SDGs because the largest beneficiaries are the youth” she said
As a key advocate for the Vijana Na Skills initiative, she promoted digital literacy and the inclusion of women in the Fourth Industrial Revolution as essential tools for social and economic empowerment.
She further reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to enhancing development cooperation with China, particularly in gender mainstreaming, technology, and inclusive governance. — NNN-KBC
