First Lady Margaret Kenyatta says she will focus her efforts in running and growing the recently launched Margaret Kenyatta Institute for Gender and Social Development once she retires from her current position in August.
Speaking at State House, Nairobi after the East Africa Community (EAC) meeting between Heads of States and First Ladies, she pointed out that the institute will be instrumental in empowering women by providing them with relevant resources, education, and healthcare services.
The institute is located at the Kenya School of Government (KSG) main campus in Lower Kabete. In the Friday, April 8, statement, the First Lady noted that the institute was born from the Beyond Zero Initiative which she has been running with the aim of reducing maternal mortality and ensuring availability of free maternal services.
The Beyond Zero Initiative was conceived in 2013 to intensify advocacy efforts meant to reduce preventable maternal and child deaths.
During the launch of the institute, KSG noted that the two organisations will collaborate and work closely in achieving their individual and collective goals.
"The framework will henceforth guide our two institutions to achieve closer collaborations and beyond this, fulfill jointly agreed upon activities and programmes, all of which seek to improve the social life of our citizens," KSG Director General, Ludeki Chweya, stated during the launch of the institute.
Other than the Margaret Kenyatta Institute for Gender and Social Development, the First Lady noted that she will continue overseeing the running of the Beyond Zero Initiative, adding that it will continue into her retirement.
She, however, noted that it will run independently since the project has acquired both local and international support.
"Beyond Zero will continue to run independently because we have local support as well as international partners willing to walk with us in championing the welfare of children, girls and women in the country," the First Lady remarked.
She made the announcements when she met Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) First Lady, Denise Nyakeru Tshisekedi, at State House after the EAC Heads of States meeting.
It also emerged that the First Lady inspired DRC to start an initiative similar to Beyond Zero. Nyakeru, who runs the initiative, explained that her charitable work involves offering support to vulnerable children, girls, and women in the expansive nation.
Her project has been successful owing to advice from Margaret Kenyatta and support from other government departments in DRC.
