SERICHO WARD, ISIOLO COUNTY
The Commission, led by the Chairperson, Hon. Rehema Dida Jaldesa, and the Commission Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dr Purity Ngina, took the equality agenda to Sericho Ward through a three-day grassroots outreach aimed at the barriers that keep special interest groups away from essential services and public participation.
Working with Civil Registration, the Department of Immigration and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the outreach brought national identification, voter registration, and birth and death registration services into the ward. A document proves identity. It also opens access to services, opportunities and participation, and its absence closes all three.
As Kenya moves towards the 2027 General Election, the Commission’s position is that inclusion must begin well before the ballot, by ensuring that distance and unaddressed barriers do not lock residents out of civic space. The Constitution protects equality and political participation, including the right of adult citizens to register as voters and take part in elections without unreasonable restrictions.
The Commission also engaged community elders and leaders, whose influence shapes attitudes, settles disputes and determines how much space communities give to participation. The message to them was direct. Women must not be silenced, young people must not be sidelined, persons with disabilities must not face barriers, and older members of society must not be excluded from decisions that affect their lives.
The Commission continues to advance equality through public education, monitoring, advocacy, collaboration and action to strengthen the inclusion of special interest groups.
