By Fatuma Rashid
There is an urgent need for firm enforcement of affirmative action policies to secure representation for indigenous women, youth, and persons with disabilities in both national and county governance, Laikipia County Secretary Koinange Wahome has advised.
Speaking during the 10th anniversary of the Indigenous Women Council (IWC) in Nanyuki today, Koinange urged leaders to move beyond symbolic gestures and provide concrete support to Indigenous communities.
“We must do more than just applauding them. We must amplify their voices and back their work with tangible government support,” he said.
The IWC, a national platform established in 2015, unites Indigenous women leaders and communities in Kenya to advocate for rights, promote Indigenous knowledge systems, and advance gender equality. The council has been instrumental in advocacy, capacity building, and fostering solidarity across Indigenous groups.
The event, attended by over 300 women leaders from pastoralist, hunter-gatherer, and fisherfolk communities, coincided with the International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples.
This year’s theme, “Indigenous Peoples and AI: Defending Rights, Shaping Futures,” highlighted the intersection of technology and indigenous rights.
Organizers emphasized the IWC’s decade-long efforts to defend land rights, promote women’s leadership, and preserve Indigenous knowledge systems. They also called for measures to address digital-era inequalities, particularly Indigenous data sovereignty; the right of Indigenous peoples to govern and protect data related to their cultures, lands, and identities.
IWC Executive Director Jane Meriwas urged the government to decentralize community land registration, enforce affirmative action in political representation, integrate Indigenous knowledge into school curricula, and strengthen gender desks in police stations within Indigenous territories.
“Women are reclaiming Indigenous seeds, youth are safeguarding water as a right, and elders are restoring traditional governance to protect communal lands. Our work is rooted in memory and moral clarity; we fight for ourselves and for future generations,” she said.
Speakers linked the protection of Indigenous rights to environmental sustainability, warning that extractive projects, displacement, and climate change threaten livelihoods.
“Protecting Indigenous women’s rights is inseparable from protecting the land and environment. When their voices are heard, entire ecosystems stand a better chance of survival,” said Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere.
National Gender and Equality Commission Chairperson Rehema Jaldesa praised the resilience of Indigenous women and their growing influence in leadership roles. She attributed their increased presence in government and policy-making to sustained advocacy and government commitment to empowering marginalized communities.
National Land Commission CEO Kabale Tache emphasized the need to integrate Indigenous knowledge into land and resource management, describing Indigenous women’s leadership as “critical” to shaping inclusive, sustainable policies.
Click here for the event’s photos.