KAKAMEGA COUNTY AND KIPPRA PARTNER ON WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT

Officials from the County Government of Kakamega and the Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis (KIPPRA) held an executive breakfast meeting on Tuesday to fast-track the implementation of the National Policy on Women’s Economic Empowerment and the National Care Policy, following a baseline survey conducted between February and March 2026; which revealed that Kakamega scored 32.1 percent on the Women’s Economic Opportunity Index—above the national average of 28.0 percent—but recorded a low 12.4 percent on access to productive resources highlighting critical gaps in land, finance and technology access.

On the care economy, the county scored 28.5 percent, slightly below the national average of 29.0 percent, with gaps in care policy awareness and infrastructure.

County Secretary and Head of Public Service Dr. Lawrence Omuhaka, graced the event on behalf of Governor Fernandes Barasa and reaffirmed the county’s commitment to the partnership, citing a planned childcare centre at Masinde Muliro University to support student mothers.

KIPPRA Board Chair Prof. Paul Wachana on his part pledged technical assistance in domesticating the two national policies, reviewing the County Care Policy, integrating relevant indicators into the CIDP and M&E frameworks and improving sex-disaggregated data reporting.

Deputy County Secretary CPA Samson Otieno and KIPPRA Board Director Ms. Monica Mukayagi were also in attendance.