The CECM Youth, Gender, Culture, Sports and Social Services handing over the Project to the Gender Officer OPDP, Ms. Eunice Chepkemoi alongside the CO Gender Nakuru County, Hon. Gladys Kamuren and a representative from the Ogiek women.
Ogiek Peoples’ Development Program (OPDP) on 8th Monday,2024 launched a project on promoting socio-economic empowerment among Ogiek women which is funded through the Indigenous Peoples Alliance for Rights and Development (IPARD), a program implemented by the FSC-IF and funded by USAID and the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The project was launched by, Chief Executive Committee Member, Youth, Gender, Culture, Sports and Social Services Nakuru County, Hon. Josephine Achieng.
The event was graced with the attendance of 42 individuals including the Executive Director OPDP, Mr. Daniel Kobei, Gender Officer OPDP, Ms. Eunice Chepkemoi, the Regional Director FSC Indigenous Foundation for Africa and Asia Ms. Salina Sanou, Chief Officer Gender, Social Services and Inclusivity Nakuru County Ms. Gladys Kamuren, 11 representatives from the gender directorates from both the National Government and the concerned counties of the project, representatives from the NGO coordination office, 13 members from the Civil Society organizations and financial institutions, 10 women from the Ogiek community and staff from OPDP. The project is set to run to 2025 and aims at addressing unique challenges faced by women from the Ogiek community in six counties namely: Nakuru, Narok, Uasin-Gishu, Kericho, Nandi and Baringo Counties, while trying to empower them economically and fostering sustainable socio-economic development in these counties. Some of the strategies that will be used to achieve the objectives of the projects include community awareness, capacity building, advocacy, partnership and networking. The speakers emphasized sustainability and value addition as a means to end poverty and empower Ogiek women.
CECM Gender, Sports, Youth and Social Services Hon. Josphine Achieng
The County government of Nakuru through the representation of the CECM Gender, Sports, Youth and Social Services Hon. Josphine Achieng, assured the support of the County to empowering Ogiek women and ensuring that they are involved in some of the county’s initiatives that aim to support women, leadership and inclusive decision making. The different representatives from the gender directorates in the counties of Narok and Uasin-Gishu, emphasized on the need to empower Ogiek women to ensure sustainability of their communities. Emily Samoei an Ogiek woman from Uasin-Gishu cited some of the initiatives they are carrying out including poultry farming and rearing of sheep amongst groups of women in Uasin-Gishu County. She noted that the project will boost them further to conduct other income generating activities and eventually improve their living standard. Subsequently, Jane Machani, an Ogiek woman from East Mau applauded OPDP for their immense efforts in supporting Ogiek women in different ventures and building their capacities to ensure they stand out like any other women in the society. She went ahead to mention that the project would help them support their community and thanked OPDP for initiating the project. She called upon the County government representatives to include Ogiek women in their initiatives and coined her sentiments with a quote, ‘Empowering women is empowering the society’. She reiterated that Ogiek women have not benefited from affirmative action funds and the grants being disbursed by counties which have less burden unlike the loans thus far.
A group photo of participants attending the launch
The Executive Director OPDP Daniel Kobei, reiterated on the importance of empowering women, not only the Ogiek women but all women, stating that for a long time women have not been appreciated for the little things they do including the common household chores and unpaid care work. He went ahead to state that a lot of support around OPDP’s scope of work has always been accorded by women and there is a need to respect them. While speaking, he also urged the women to help and support in the nurturing of young boys so as to raise a generation of responsible men. He welcomed the collaboration and partnerships of the national and county government, CSOs and financial institutions to make the project a success. The Regional Director FSC Indigenous Foundation for Africa and Asia Ms. Salina Sanou, acknowledged the presence of the representation from different counties and promised to report back to the donors about the swift progress of the project while promising to walk through the journey of empowering Ogiek women until their life changes positively and there is impact in the greater Mau. She also stated that there would be a rollout of the second phase of the project in 2027.The launch was successful and marked the beginning of a journey to socio-economic transformation of Ogiek women in the six counties.