Source: Coast Week
Kenya has launched a solidarity movement that engages men and boys to end gender inequality in the country. The move is to help break the silence by raising voices and taking action whenever one gender's right is violated.

"Gender inequality is not a women's issue, but a human rights issue that affects all of us," President Uhuru Kenyatta said during the launch of campaign.

Kenyatta said people must start being responsible towards taking care of others and benefit from gender equality. He noted that gender equality not only liberates women but also men from social roles and gender stereotypes.

"Since independence Kenya has produced women leaders who have played important role in development sphere and this is manifested in the key positions held by them in the government," Kenyatta reiterated.

The president said the country has good policies that must be implemented to ensure that cases of Gender Based Violence (GBV) are eradicated.

He noted that a number of social economic programs have been started recently to help empower women and the youths in the country.

"Patriarchy still rules our society and men are powerful agents of change; therefore, their voices are necessary to lift up these issues and ultimately to transform structures of inequality," said Nardos Bekele-Thomas, UN Resident Coordinator for Kenya.

She observed that men have the responsibility to pick up the torch, and integrate the conversations into male culture for the benefit of all.

The UN official hailed Kenya for being the second country in Africa after Rwanda to launch the campaign, adding that the dignity of women that has been diminishing in everyday must be restored.

She also called on the government to reinforce the legislative framework and policies that have been put in place.

The launch is coming at a time when gender activists have been talking about gender violence prevention for a long time, and men have largely been outside of that conversation.

Anne Waiguru, Cabinet Secretary for Devolution and Planning, condemned the recent spate of attacks against women in the country.

"It is our responsibility to nurture and protect women and children as a fundamental tribute of who we are as a people, instead of stripping them naked and beating them," she added.

Waiguru revealed that the government has allocated women 30 perc ent preferential procurement provisions to give them funds and opportunities for growth.

The campaign, He for She, was launched by the UN Secretary- General Ban Ki-moon to help incorporate men in the fight against gender violence and discrimination.

• Kenya