The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) has today initiated a program aimed at empowering women legislators with skills on appropriation and resourcing for positive health and gender outcomes.
In partnership with the Institute of Public Finance (IPF), the Women MPs now look forward to working closely with the Members of Budget and Appropriations, Finance, Health, Social Protection and Labour Parliamentary Committees to address gender responsive budgeting.
Speaking during the forum, KEWOPA Chairperson Hon. Leah Sankaire (Kajiado County) raised concerns over insufficient funding and budgetary cuts to the gender responsive programs.
Hon. Sankaire emphasized the critical need for adequate financial support, particularly in light of the limited donor funding for such programs .
Hon. Lilian Siyoi (Trans Nzoia) decried over-reliance on donor funding towards the Health sector.
Advocating for Budget interrogation, Hon. Mary Emaase (Teso South) and the Vice Chairperson for Budget &Appropriations Committee urged fellow women lawmakers to always interact with the budget keenly.
"We should look at the Health Budget and question the percentage increase. Does it resonate with the population growth and the flooding?" asked Hon. Emaase.
Hon. Mary Maingi (Mwea) pointed out the underrepresentation of women in the society as the major obstacle to gender responsive budgeting.
Hon. Sulekha Hulbale Harun (nominated) emphasized some of the critical hurdles and solutions for gender-responsive budgeting. Citing the absence of gender-disaggregated data, limited staff capacity and the necessity for sustained political will.
Hon Sulekha underscored the importance for prioritizing gender equality in budget allocations.
Other challenges pinpointed as derailing women from stepping in to leadership and being effective in promoting gender transformative policy and resource allocation include insufficient funding and societal leadership support as well as lack of adequate technical skills to enable them participate in gender responsive policy making.
In order to align the budget with priorities and to avoid wastage, MP. Hon. Pauline Lenguris (Samburu) stressed on the importance of directing funding towards projects with tangible impacts on citizens.
The women legislators resolved to convene a meeting with the Budget and Appropriations Committee to advocate for increased budgetary allocations to gender responsive programs
