In a bold step towards promoting social justice and inclusive policy-making, the National Gender qnd Equality Commission, in partnership with the Come Together Widows and Orphans Organization (CTWOO), has launched a three-day High-Level Consultative Forum focusing on the protection of widowed persons in Kenya.
The forum, which brings together advocates, policymakers, and community leaders, aims to develop a joint communique with actionable strategies, policy recommendations, and collaborative frameworks. The goal is to strengthen the legal and institutional safeguards for widowed individuals, many of whom face systemic neglect, stigma, and socio-economic challenges.
At the same time, the Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Purity Ngina, is actively participating in ongoing public participation forums on Gender-Based Violence (GBV), including femicide, currently taking place in Embu County. These forums, to be held across all 47 counties, seek to amplify the voices of survivors and communities, and generate grassroots-driven solutions to GBV and related injustices.
“These parallel efforts speak to our deep commitment to human dignity and equality,” said Dr. Ngina. “We’re not just shaping policy, we’re restoring hope and building systems that protect everyone, especially the most vulnerable.”
As Kenya continues to confront the dual crises of widow marginalization and rising cases of GBV, these coordinated efforts are a timely reminder of the power of inclusive dialogue and community-led reform.
