First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has called on women to use their influence to spread peace and progress in the country.
Mrs Kenyatta said true peace and development can only be achieved through the inclusion of women in all community initiatives and programmes, including peace building.
“These women wield incredible power, as wives and child bearers, mothers, leaders, decision makers and workers. They build homes, bring in incomes, educate children, and silently influence community decisions,” she said during International Women’s Day celebrations at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on Tuesday.
International Women’s Day is marked annually on March 8 to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements made by women.
This year’s global theme is “Planet 50-50 by 2030: Step It Up for Gender Equality”.
She said women have always strived to ensure peace prevails despite holding different political and religious views.
The First Lady said women always seek peace first whenever there are threats of strife and encourage reconciliation where divisions arise.
She singled out athlete Tegla Loroupe and Nominated Senator Naisula Lesuuda as women who have played a crucial role in spearheading peace in Pokot and Samburu communities respectively.