The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) opened its Meru County dialogues on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, with courtesy calls on the County Commissioner and the county government.

 The delegation was led by the Chairperson, Hon. Rehema Jaldesa, with Commissioner Michael Nzomo. The calls set the agenda for a week of dialogues on the barriers that keep women out of competitive elective office ahead of the 2027 General Election

At the office of County Commissioner George Omolo, discussions covered women’s political participation, gender-based violence, female genital mutilation, teenage pregnancy, harmful cultural practices, and women’s access to land and inheritance. 

Omolo called for more inclusive electoral participation, an end to political violence and vulgarity, and action on the financial barriers facing women candidates. Jaldesa said the Commission will prioritize targeted engagement with men and with perpetrators of gender-based violence, alongside survivor-focused interventions, to drive behaviour change and reduce violence.

COUNTY COMMITMENTS 

Deputy Governor H.E. Linda Kiome received the delegation at the county government, where Meru County pledged to support Commission interventions on gender equality and inclusive empowerment. 

Kiome set out the county’s grassroots women empowerment initiatives and called for greater focus on young men vulnerable to political violence and exploitation. She cited the Meru Youth Service, which engages 20 youth per ward through paramilitary training and community service, with 940 youth expected to graduate by March 2027.

She also called for programmes targeting older men and asked the Commission to support the formation of men’s groups capable of attracting structured county support.

MALE ENGAGEMENT 

Jaldesa said intentional male engagement is a Commission priority, particularly for men aged 36 to 60 who often fall outside existing empowerment programmes. She committed Commission support through capacity building, legal aid clinics and technical assistance on inclusive policies.

 In the 2022 General Election women won two of 56 non-reserved elective positions in Meru, and no woman has been elected Senator or constituency Member of Parliament in the county. 

The Meru forums opened on Wednesday with the Commission placing the agenda of the week, followed by the dialogue with women. The programme ran to Friday, with each dialogue day closing with a communique issued by the Special Interest Groups in that session.