West Pokot Leaders Mark International Women’s Day with a Call to Action

Kapenguria,March 8, 2025 – Leaders, activists, and community members from across West Pokot came together to celebrate International Women’s Day under the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment.”  at St. Elizabeth Girls, Morpus. More than just a celebration, the event was a powerful call to action to end gender-based violence, harmful practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), and the barriers that hold women and girls back from economic and leadership opportunities.

Speaking at the event, H.E Scovia Chebet Kachapin  reaffirmed the county’s commitment to protecting young girls from FGM, a practice that has stolen dreams and futures for generations.

“FGM has been a major challenge in our county for far too long. That’s why we have set up a rescue center—to give young girls a safe space and a fresh start,” she said. “We are working closely with partners to make sure every girl gets the chance she deserves to thrive.”

She urged communities to take responsibility for ending harmful traditions and instead embrace those that uplift and empower.

"The power to change this lies with all of us. We can be the generation that says no to outdated, harmful customs and replaces them with opportunities for growth, education, and equality.”

Lucky Litole, West Pokot County Executive Committee Member (CEC) for Culture, Tourism Sports Youth and Gender, acknowledged the challenges that remain but pointed to key policy efforts making a difference.

“We know there’s still a long way to go, but we’re taking concrete steps. The County Gender Policy is a big move in the right direction, ensuring better protections for women and girls. We’re also pushing for the adoption of the National Care Policy to support stay-at-home mothers through initiatives like Ushanga,” she explained.

She was clear about the county’s goal:

“We are working toward a future where FGM is no longer an issue in West Pokot—zero cases, no exceptions.”

Evelyn Samba, Executive Director of Youth for a Sustainable World (YSW), and Moses Atupomoi from UN Women echoed this commitment. They pledged to continue pushing for gender equality and mobilizing resources to support women’s empowerment.

Caroline Menach, Director, Perur Rays of  Hope, spoke passionately about the struggles women and girls still face and why education must be prioritized.

“For too long, women have been held back by discrimination, early marriages, FGM, and other harmful practices. It’s time we change that,” she said. “Education is the key. When we invest in girls’ education, we open doors for them to lead, to thrive, and to break the cycle of inequality.”

This year’s International Women’s Day also marked the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action—a global commitment to women’s rights. The milestone served as a reminder of how far we’ve come, but also of how much work is left to do..