Tessie Mudavadi calls for removal of legal, structural barriers to gender equality

Speaking during International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations in Tharaka Nithi County, Tessie emphasized that removing obstacles to justice and rights for women and girls is critical for national progress. 

“Every investment we make in women and girls returns multiplied in healthier families, stronger communities and a more prosperous nation,” Tessie said.

She added, “On this International Women’s Day, let us remember that when we give our time, resources and support to a cause, we gain healthier communities, empowered women, and Kenya will gain generations of strength, resilience and possibility.”

The event also featured the Ushiriki Wema Foundation’s handover of infant incubators to the Okoa Malaika Programme, supporting neonatal care in the region.

Tessie also called on the government, private sector, civil society, and development partners to scale up access to quality neonatal care across the country. 

She highlighted the importance of extended maternity leave for mothers of pre-term babies, framing it not as charity, but as a strategic investment in healthier children, stronger families, and a more productive nation.

“I therefore request our legislators at the national and county levels to rise to this moment. They have the capacity to determine an appropriate period suitable to both mother and child,” she urged.

She cited examples from other African nations, noting that Tanzania has introduced extended maternity leave provisions for mothers of preterm babies and longer maternity leave periods of upto 6 months have been allowed in Gambia and Djibouti.

Njoki Mambo, brand ambassador for the Okoa Malaika Programme, praised the resilience of mothers and healthcare workers in neonatal units. 

“On this International Women’s Day, we honor the incredible resilience of mothers who fight alongside their little angels in the neonatal units, and we also celebrate the dedicated healthcare professionals who support mothers and newborns in these units every single day,” she said.

Tessie noted that the equipment handover to referral hospitals in Tharaka Nithi, Meru, and Embu is part of a broader commitment to strengthen neonatal care. 

“We want a future where no family in Kenya would suffer the heartbreak of losing a baby to prematurity. As we hand over this equipment, let us reaffirm our commitment to strengthening our neonatal care,” she said.

International Women’s Day, celebrated annually on March 8, recognises the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while also drawing attention to the ongoing challenges they face, including discrimination, violence, and unequal access to opportunities.

Globally, governments, civil society organisations, and activists are using the occasion to advocate for stronger policies that promote gender equality, equal pay, access to education, and greater representation of women in leadership roles.