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Since the 15 April 2013, the Commission for Gender Equality (CGE) has been hosting the Chairperson of the National Gender of Kenya, Mrs Winfred Lichuma. The Chairperson and her colleague, Mr Paul Kuria are here in the country as part of the study tour that want to ascertain the workings of the Commission for Gender and other relevant bodies.

To date, they have been to the Land and Development Bank of South Africa (Land Bank), Film and Publication Board (FPB), attended an Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP) meeting in Durban that looked at the issues of gender parity, i.e. 50/50, attended a meeting between CGE and the Speaker of Mpumalanga Legislature on the functioning of the Provincial Gender Machinery,

The Kenyan delegation were also briefed both the Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Offices of the CGE on programmes and other related activities. This was to enable them to understand better how the two compliment the Strategic Plan as ascribed in the Annual Performance Plan of the organisation.

Yesterday, the delegation were in Parliament with the Chairperson of the Commission, Mr Mfanozelwe Shozi wherein they with also meet with the Chairperson for the Portfolio Committee on Women, Children, Youth and People with Disabilities. This was also an opportune moment for them to be exposed to Parliamentary processes wherein they sat in during the deliberations on the Amendment of the CGE Bill.

The Kenyan delegation was also supposed to be meeting with the Deputy Minister of Women, Children and people with Disabilities, however that meeting has to be called off due to the issues that involve travelling schedule from Cape Town to Pretoria.

Today, the Kenyan delegation together with the Chairperson and Commissioners will attend the Employment Equity and transformation Indaba at the Birchwood Hotel. On Friday, CGE and the Kenyan delegation will be joined by other Chapter 9 institutions, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) Faith Based Organisations (FBOs) etc., in ensuring that they get to fully understand the relationship that exist between CSOs, government and Chapter 9s.

The CGE Commissioners and Management will later have a closed caucus bilateral meeting wherein issues of mutual interest will be explored, subsequently resulting in a Memorandum of understanding (MoU). The CGE sincerely trust the Kenyans will be made comfortable wherever they go, hence assist them in an endeavour to build capacity and share ideas for their one year old Commission that has aligned itself with the workings of our constitutional institutions.

The CGE believes that having chosen South Africa as one of the destination to do the study tour is an affirmation of the greater role that we play in helping deepen and strength democracy not only limited to the country but throughout the region.