Kenya’s peace and security policy strengthening continues
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Kenya’s Kwale County Government launched its County Action Plan to localise Kenya’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security 2020 – 2024 (KNAPII).
Kwale is the fourth county to develop a local action plan, which articulates women’s critical role in peace and social cohesion. Speaking at the launch event, UN Women partner – Human Rights Agenda Executive Director Yusuf Lule Mwatsefu explained the importance of this action plan will bring to the coastal county:
“Kwale is affected by numerous factors that undermine peace for its citizens. Yet despite consolidated efforts, more can be achieved if we recognise and amplify the role the community’s women have in resolving and mitigating the effects of this insecurity. Women of Kwale have already demonstrated the value they add to conflict resolution and this action plan will galvanise those already championing peace and encourage more to take up the call.”
The action plan will guide localized strategic actions that facilitate meaningful participation of women in peace and security work with focus across all four pillars of the country’s national action plan – participation, prevention, protection and relief and recovery. It also includes an implementation framework with indicators to measure progress and listing responsibilities for both state and non-state actors.
KNAPII is the second phase of this policy framework that provides direction on the mainstreaming of gender in peace building and conflict management in development policies, plans, and projects, and enables communities and peace structures. Speaking at the launch event, UN Women Country Representative Anna Mutavati welcomed the action plan and set sights on implementation:
“The development of this action plan clearly sets out the Government of Kenya’s intentions to lead in the women peace and security agenda. Alongside Government, women’s rights organisations, peace actors, UN Women must ensure strong implementation follows, being cognisant of the impacts and challenges conflict has at the grass roots. It sets a standard and will increase security in a region managing multiple and overlapping conflict drivers.”
UN Women, supported by the Government of Finland, has been working with the Government of Kenya to domesticate UN Security Council 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (WPS) since 2010 through a twinning process, whereby global south and north collaborate to advance the WPS agenda.