MALE ALLIES RENEW COMMITMENT TO ADVANCE GENDER EQUITY AND WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP

KEWOPA hosted the third Male Allies Engagement Forum under the theme “From Awareness to Action: Leading Change as Male Allies.” The meeting brought together legislators and partners to reflect on progress, share lessons, and strengthen commitment to gender equity.
Mercy Mwangi, KEWOPA E.D,stressed the need to move beyond rhetoric. “We are taking stock of our journey so far. Beyond campaigns, we must ensure that women’s agendas are incorporated into manifestos and governance structures. For us, this is about meaningful change, not tokenism,” she said.
Participants reviewed strides made since the first engagement and highlighted the impact of collaboration. They shared lessons in advancing women’s leadership and the challenges of sustaining gender-responsive practices in parliamentary work. Data-driven advocacy and gender-responsive budgeting were identified as essential tools for lasting impact.
Calls were made for fair resource allocation to women leaders. Current funding for women parliamentarians was described as inadequate compared to responsibilities. Stronger investments in Women’s Economic Empowerment and equitable distribution of resources were urged.
Capacity building was underscored as vital. Training women legislators and male allies on budget oversight and gender-responsive policy processes was identified as a pathway to amplify women’s voices in governance. Sustained training was recommended to demystify gender concepts and institutionalize allyship in parliamentary structures.
The forum highlighted the urgency of ending Female Genital Mutilation. Discussions noted the damaging impact of FGM on girls’ education, health, and dignity. Participants stressed the role of men in advocacy and community training to change harmful norms and protect future generations.
The session closed with a commitment to advance women’s economic empowerment, care policies, and leadership opportunities. Participants pledged to scale up advocacy, engage communities, and strengthen collaborations that reduce gender inequities and promote inclusive development.