Taita Taveta leaders push for women’s land rights, economic empowerment
National Gender and Equality Commission member Dr Margaret Karungaru noted that national policies promoting gender equality and protecting widows’ property rights were being strengthened.
Taita Taveta County leaders have called for stronger legal safeguards and greater economic empowerment for rural women, recognising their central role in driving Kenya’s agricultural growth and rural development.
The County Governor, Andrew Mwadime, underscored the need to strengthen women’s access to land, credit, training, and modern technology.
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He said rural women remain the backbone of the economy, contributing immensely to food production, livestock keeping, agribusiness, and value addition despite facing persistent barriers.
“True empowerment begins when women can own and control land and property,” Governor Mwadime said, urging legal reforms and cultural shifts to safeguard women’s inheritance rights and enhance their participation in economic decision-making.
National Gender and Equality Commission member Dr Margaret Karungaru noted that national policies promoting gender equality and protecting widows’ property rights were being strengthened.
She encouraged women to seek leadership positions and challenged local leaders to recognise and support women’s development efforts.
County Executive for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries, Katuu Mzenge, urged women to join cooperatives and SACCOs to access financial and training opportunities under the World Bank-supported National Agricultural Value Chain Development Project (NAVCDP).
He warned that unregistered women risk missing out on key government initiatives.
His counterpart in the Department of Sports and Gender, Shedrack Mutungi, lauded rural women as the foundation of family and food security, reaffirming the county’s commitment to support them through training and agricultural extension services.
Former governor and Agricultural Finance Corporation chairperson John Mruttu described women as “the backbone of Kenya’s economy”, yet burdened by systemic inequalities. He said empowering women through access to finance and technology would help build more resilient communities.
Deputy County Commissioner Chaka Nyamawi urged women to turn leaders’ pledges into action by pursuing available financial and entrepreneurial opportunities.
The county officials, national representatives, and community leaders all emphasized the need to strengthen women’s participation in economic growth and food security for a more inclusive future.
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