The silent revolution: How the government is tackling women's biggest challenges
President William Ruto leads members of the Cabinet in a prayer during a meeting at State House, Nairobi, on December 17, 2024.
What you need to know:
- The Cabinet to merge enterprise funds, tackle GBV through a taskforce, and expand maternal healthcare.
- Government reforms to boost women's economic empowerment and enhance maternal healthcare access through M-Mama and Linda Mama initiatives.
Over the past year, the Cabinet has approved various measures directly impacting the agency and well-being of Kenyan women. As highlighted below, these decisions shape women's progress in economic empowerment, healthcare, and protection from gender-based violence (GBV).
Merging enterprise funds
On January 21, the Cabinet approved the merger of the Women Enterprise Fund, Youth Enterprise Development Fund, and Uwezo Fund into a single entity. These funds are among 42 state corporations with overlapping or related mandates that the Cabinet approved for consolidation into 20 entities to enhance operational efficiency and eliminate redundancy.
Multi-sectoral approach to combat GBV
Following a briefing from the Deputy President on December 17, 2024, the Cabinet sanctioned the establishment of a Multi-Sectoral Working Group to address the rising cases of GBV and the alarming increase in femicide. A 42-member taskforce, chaired by Dr Nancy Baraza, former Deputy Chief Justice, was gazetted on January 10, 2025, and given a 90-day mandate to deliver on 10 critical matters, among them identifying trends, hotspots, and causes of GBV, including femicide.
M-Mama: A lifeline for expectant mothers
On the same day, December 17, 2024, the Cabinet approved the M-Mama emergency transport system to improve access to maternal healthcare. The 24/7 national toll-free service connects pregnant and postpartum women and newborns to high-quality healthcare. The system provides remote triage and consultations by healthcare professionals and links patients to emergency transport through ambulances or vetted community drivers, ensuring timely access to medical care. This initiative aims to reduce maternal and neonatal deaths caused by delays in reaching healthcare facilities.
Expanding maternal health services through Linda Mama
Again, on September 17, 2024, the Cabinet approved the expansion of the Linda Mama program to cover not only prenatal care but also comprehensive postnatal care, ensuring a holistic approach to mother and child health. This expansion seeks to safeguard their well-being throughout the entire continuum of care.
mobiria@ke.nationmedia.com