Kenya is making significant strides in ensuring her women are empowered, and given equal opportunities same as men

A nation where women and girls are educated, empowered and given equal opportunities same as men is more likely to develop at a faster rate than a nation where women are sidelined, marginalized and held back.

President of Rwanda Paul Kagame once said that no one benefits if women are held back but when women are empowered, educated and given equal opportunities as men, the whole society benefits at large.

We have to acknowledge that Kenya has made significant strides in ensuring that her women are empowered, educated and given equal opportunities same as men.

The number of women in the political arena has increased significantly. We have seen more women in both the national assembly senate and the county assembly. This has been made possible through the creation of special seats for women only.

We have also seen women rising through ranks in their work place like in the military, police unit judiciary and all private and public sectors.

Kenya has also passed laws to protect women from harmful cultural practices, any form of violence and any form of discrimination.

University entry cut off points have also been reduced for women to ensure that more women are educated.

Moreover Kenya has improved maternal health services and is offering these services free of charge. The aim of this is to prevent more women and children from dying during child birth.

Although Kenya has made strides in ensuring that women are empowered and enjoy equal opportunities same as men, women are still experiencing and facing a lot of challenges.

Cases of violence against women have increased here in Kenya with one in every three women experiencing some form of violence in her lifetime.

Many young girls are also still subjected to forced marriage, female genital mutilations, rape and sex slavery.

Moreover lack of  access to sexual and reproductive health and rights information and services is also another challenge women in Kenya face.

Women are also underpaid. Women with the same qualification as men are often subjected to more work and get underpaid which is not fair at all.

We have also seen extremist trying to turn back the few gains made by women. For example we have seen the male legislators trying to get rid of the one third gender rule.

In order to achieve goal number five of sustainable development goals which is to achieve gender equality and empowerment of all women and girls, Kenya needs to put in place more stronger, more efficient and more competent structures and institutions which will ensure that women are treated as first class citizens same as their male counterpart.