Women governors, under the auspices of the G7 caucus, have vowed to lead a sustained campaign to empower and mentor more women into positions of leadership.

Speaking on Thursday during a guided tour of various development projects in Machakos County, hosted by Governor Wavinya Ndeti, the leaders pledged to team up to achieve socio-economic transformation of their counties and increase the number of women in influential leadership positions.

The leaders committed to leveraging their platforms and influence to foster an environment where future female leaders can thrive.

This initiative comes at a time when global discussions on gender parity and women’s empowerment are gaining momentum, particularly in political and corporate leadership. The women governors acknowledged the challenges women often face in ascending to leadership roles, including systemic barriers, gender biases, and a lack of access to networks and mentorship opportunities.

To address these challenges, the leaders plan to establish comprehensive mentorship programs, provide resources for leadership training, and create forums for young women to engage with and learn from experienced female leaders.

“The idea of G-7 is to encourage women aspiring for leadership and show them that it can actually be done. We also want to demonstrate that women exemplify exceptional leadership qualities, as demonstrated by Governor Wavinya,” said Kirinyaga County boss Ann Waiguru, who is also the chair of the Council of Governors.

The visiting governors, including Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay), Cecily Mbarire (Embu), Susan Kihika (Nakuru), Fatuma Achani (Kwale), and Waiguru, lauded Wavinya for initiating the Machakos Youth Service, a program designed to uplift youth from poverty and transform them into wealth creators.

“What I learned from this visit, and I really thank Governor Wavinya for, is the introduction of the Machakos Youth Service program. I am confident it will be a game changer and will consider introducing the same in Nakuru County,” said Governor Kihika.

Similar sentiments were echoed by Mbarire, who vowed to replicate the concept and launch the Embu Youth Service. “As women leaders, we are trying to learn from each other and exchange ideas that work for the benefit of our electorate,” she said.

On Tuesday, Wavinya concluded a series of countywide public participation forums to engage the youth on proposed amendments to the Machakos County Youth Empowerment Act, 2022, which seeks to anchor the Machakos Youth Service in law.

“Ms. Ndeti has done a lot in the last two years despite taking over when counties are not receiving a lot of money. You need to support her to complete her 10 years,” said Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga.

Some of the key development projects that the leaders visited included the groundbreaking construction of Athi River Level 4 Hospital with a bed capacity of 102, which will have the potential to handle about 88,000 patients annually.

At New Machakos City, Wavinya led her colleagues in laying the foundation for the construction of a giant specialty hospital named after the famous freedom fighter Muindi Mbingu. The 600-bed capacity facility, scheduled for completion in 2026, will house a modern cancer center, a Mother and Child complex, and other complex medical services.

Also unveiled at the New Machakos City site was an upcoming modern sports complex that will accommodate an Olympic-size swimming pool, indoor and outdoor games, and training facilities.

An already completed and fully equipped Gender-Based Violence rescue center was also commissioned.

Today, the G7 forum will be hosted at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos, where about 10,000 aspiring women leaders have been invited.