Task force to be formed to revive Maendeleo ya Wanawake

Youth and Gender Affairs Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki. A task force will be formed to revive the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organisation. FILE PHOTO |

What you need to know:

  • The task force will also fast-track reforms, and review and ratify the organisation’s constitution.
  • The organisation has in the past been rocked by controversy.

The Ministry of Gender and Youth Affairs has announced that it will work with the Maendeleo Ya Wanawake Organization (MYWO) to strengthen its mandate.

Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki met MYWO officials Tuesday and came up with measures to make the organisation vibrant again.

The officials said a joint task force will be established within 21 days by the National Executive Council and the Gender Ministry to oversee a forensic audit of the organisation, which is led by Rahab Mwikali.

The task force will also fast-track reforms, and review and ratify the organisation’s constitution.

The team will also facilitate the conclusion of a five-year strategic plan and organise an annual general meeting.

“I call upon all MYWO leadership and members to fully support these reforms so that we steer the organisation back to a strong path of recovery and growth,” said Ms Kariuki.

The minister said a robust MYWO would significantly improve the lives of women and youth, especially those in the rural areas.

The organisation has in the past been rocked by controversy.

In 2014, Ms Mwikali was elected the national chairwoman after former leaders Rukia Subow and Lucy Nyoroka stepped down.

MYWO boasts a nationwide network of over four million individual members and 25,000 affiliate groups and was established to implement programmes designed to improve services to women and the larger community.