The institution will be built as a partnership between the First Lady Margaret Kenyatta’s Beyond Zero Initiative and the Kenya School of Government (KSG) which will host the specialised college.
The First Lady witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by the KSG Director General Professor Ludeki Chweya and Beyond Zero Coordinator Angela Langat at State House, Nairobi.
According to the MoU, the institution will be set up at the KSG main campus at Lower Kabete. Speaking at the ceremony, the First Lady noted that the collaboration opened a new opportunity for the two organizations to jointly promote Kenya’s gender and social development agenda.
“The Memorandum of Understanding we have signed today strengthens the collaboration between our two organizations. This document creates an opportunity for us to jointly play a significant role in promoting our work on issues related to Kenya’s gender and social development agenda,†remarked the First Lady.
Through the new Margaret Kenyatta Institute, programmes that will empower women and girls to contribute more towards the attainment of national and global development goals will be created.
In addition, KSG and Beyond Zero will collaborate in identifying specific areas for action covering training, research, consultancy, policy advisory services and community outreaches.
“This MOU allows us to jointly utilize our collective knowledge and experience; to apply research, promote innovation, develop training and deliver outreach programs that will address issues that enable progress for our women,†Margaret noted.
She commended the Ministry of Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs for supporting her office in its efforts to advance Kenya’s Vision 2030 by ensuring women access opportunities for personal and collective progress.
The KSG Director thanked First Lady Margaret Kenyatta for accepting KSG’s request to name the institute after her and to become its patron. He noted that the signing of the MOU marked a turning point in the already flourishing partnership between Beyond Zero and KSG.
Also in attendance was Attorney General Kihara Kariuki and Public Service CS Margaret Kobia, Chief Administrative Secretaries (CASs) Rachael Shebesh (Public Service) and Jebii Kilimo (Gender).
Kobia opined that the establishment of the college will strengthen capacity building in the public service, provide solutions to gender challenges and serve as a rich resource for the School and other learning institutions.
“All these broad aspirations touch on healthcare, education, poverty alleviation, climate change, inclusive development, gender parity and protection of the rights of persons with disability, women and children with special mention to the welfare of girls. What this means, Your Excellency is that the work you have been involved in touches people’s hearts,†Prof Kobia said.
Kobia pointed out that the collaboration between the two institutions, through the institute, will promote the national development blueprints including Vision 2030, the Big 4 Agenda, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the African Union Agenda 2063.
The MOU was counter-signed by KSG’s Director of Administration Josephine Mwanzia and the Chief of Staff in the First Lady’s Office, Constance Gakonyo.
The AG’s office provided legal oversight and guidance in the formulation of the agreement.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
