Nairobi — The radical move that seeks to boost enrolment in schools will also see the Alliance implement a comprehensive return-to-school policy for teenage mothers.
Speaking on Friday during the signing of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance Women's Charter at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi, Deputy President William Ruto said teenage mothers will also be automatic beneficiaries of Government bursary.
Dr Ruto who is also the Kenya Kwanza Presidential Candidate pledged to double the amount of money allocated to school feeding plan "to double the number of beneficiaries to four million".
In his commitment to ensuring that women are empowered economically, Dr Ruto said that Sh25 billion Hustler Fund will be ring-fenced towards women-owned enterprises.
He observed that the Kenya Kwanza Government will actualise Access to Government Procument Opportunities by ensuring that women-owned enterprises automatically qualify for LPO financing through the Hustler Fund.
He further undertook to realise the two-third gender principle within the first one year of the Kenya Kwanza Alliance Government by allocating 50 per cent of Cabinet slots to women.
"We will work with all agencies to ensure that all public appointments stick to the two-thirds gender rule."
The Deputy President promised the more than 5,000 women from across the country who were gathered at Nyayo Stadium to initiate the Hustler Health Care Programme by December.
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In this new plan, every woman will be insured with the National Health Insurance Fund at affordable premiums based on their ability to pay and free of cost for all underprivileged women.
New mothers, Dr Ruto added, will also be provided with diapers for their children for three months free of charge.
To protect women against sexual violence and gender-based violence, Kenya Kwanza leadership dedicated to establish a Women Rights Agency under the Office of the President.
UDA Gubernatorial Candidate for Embu Cecily Mbarire noted that one woman cannot be the agenda for millions of women in the country.
"This is a charter that takes women to their rightful place in our society. Now, we have the right presidential candidate [Dr Ruto] to further our agenda," she said.
Her Kwale counterpart Fatuma Achani said they will do all that they can to ensure that Kenya Kwanza forms the next Government because "this is the time for women in Kenya".
"Under Kenya Kwanza, we [women] will rise, empowered and appreciated," insisted Aisha Jumwa, the UDA Gubernatorial Candidate for Kilifi.
With women at the centre of the decision-making table, ANC Party Leader Musalia Mudavadi said Kenya stood to be more transformed.
"We will honour this charter, and ensure its full implementation," he pledged.
