The Kisii Government on Sunday scooped the prestigious award for implementing the two thirds gender rule in line with the constitution.
The devolved unit bagged the first runners up trophy during the fourth annual Gender and Disability Mainstreaming Awards 2015.
The annual event is organised by Gender Disability Development Centre.
Kiambu County emerged top in the category.
Kisii Governor James Ongwae was elated with the recognition during the ceremony at Hilton Hotel, Nairobi.
“We have complied with the two thirds gender rule in line with Article 27 (8) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010. In the County Executive Committee, four out of 10 members are women. Equally, three of the 10 chief officers are women. The same principle applies to senior positions in the county including directors, sub-county administrators and ward administrators,” Ongwae told the meeting.
Last year, the county government held a successful capacity building workshop for persons with disability in Kisii town where over 450 participants attended.
“My government sponsored more than 90 persons with disability for a benchmarking tour at Bombolulu in Mombasa County where they were trained on entrepreneurship,” Ongwae said.
The governor said his administration is committed to attaining the five per cent threshold for persons with disability.
He said the government has reserved 30 per cent of tenders and contracts to youth, women and disabled.
The county has also partnered with Nacada to build a rehabilitation centre in the region and the project is expected to start soon.
Ongwae emphasised the recognition and inclusion of the elderly in the county’s development.
“That is why we refurbished a building for the Abagusii Elders Development Council and have equipped it with necessary infrastructure and staff so that they can be effective in discharging their duties,” the Governor said.
He said the elders often help in stemming tension among the Abagusii and their neighbours and also foster the spirit of reconciliation and coexistence.
The Governor was accompanied by the Culture, Sports, Youth and Social Services minister Marcellah Otuke.
Otuke said the award was an indication that the county government has mainstreamed gender and will continue to do even better.
“It further shows that we are ahead in comparison with other counties,” she said during an interview.