Kenyan lawmakers challenged a draft policy on women's economic empowerment during a committee session on Monday at Parliament. The National Assembly Committee on Social Protection warned that the proposal could create redundant bureaucracy and weaken the National Government Affirmative Action Fund. Committee Chair Alice Ng'ang'a said the plan risks undermining the work of 47 women representatives elected to support grassroots development across counties.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund Chief Executive Roy Sasaka Telewa told legislators the policy must identify a single implementing agency to avoid confusion. Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed questioned why the framework extends to counties without prior consultation on budgets. She criticized credit policies that require young borrowers to provide logbooks and title deeds in the current economic climate.
Members accused the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action of drafting language that sidelines existing institutions. The committee plans to summon the Cabinet Secretary for Gender to explain how the policy would operate alongside current programs. Legislators said they support women's advancement but reject parallel systems that waste public resources and reduce accountability to beneficiaries.
National Government Affirmative Action Fund Chief Executive Roy Sasaka Telewa told legislators the policy must identify a single implementing agency to avoid confusion. Mombasa Woman Representative Zamzam Mohammed questioned why the framework extends to counties without prior consultation on budgets. She criticized credit policies that require young borrowers to provide logbooks and title deeds in the current economic climate.
Members accused the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action of drafting language that sidelines existing institutions. The committee plans to summon the Cabinet Secretary for Gender to explain how the policy would operate alongside current programs. Legislators said they support women's advancement but reject parallel systems that waste public resources and reduce accountability to beneficiaries.
