GARISSA— Former Ijara Constituency Member of Parliament Sophia Abdi Noor has called for renewed commitment to inclusive development, gender equality and the protection of girls during the 4th Devolution Sensitization Week held in Garissa County.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Sophia, the first woman elected Member of Parliament from Northern Kenya, described her own political journey as one defined by resilience, determination and faith. She said she overcame cultural barriers and stereotypes to prove that leadership is measured by service, integrity and competence rather than gender.
“My story is proof that when women are given the opportunity to lead, they succeed,” she told the gathering. She urged young girls to believe in themselves and reject societal limits on their ambitions.
Mrs. Sophia highlighted persistent harmful practices that continue to undermine the rights of girls, including Female Genital Mutilation, child marriage and forced marriage. These practices, she said, rob girls of education, rights and future opportunities. Quoting a traditional saying that “a home without a daughter is like a river without a source,” she stressed that protecting girls is a national responsibility involving government, parents, religious leaders, elders and entire communities.
Education, she emphasised, remains the greatest equalizer. Every child, regardless of background, deserves quality schooling. Parents must educate their daughters with the same commitment given to sons, she added, while ensuring girls complete their education and gain skills for the modern economy.
Turning to economic empowerment, Sophia Abdi Noor noted that women are powerful drivers of growth. She called on county governments to expand access to affordable financing, entrepreneurship programmes, vocational training, markets and public procurement opportunities for women. When women prosper economically, she said, families, communities and counties thrive.
She commended President William Samoei Ruto for prioritising women’s empowerment through financial inclusion and support for women-owned enterprises. She also applauded First Lady Rachel Ruto for programmes that strengthen families, promote education and improve livelihoods, describing investment in women as investment in Kenya’s future.
Mrs. Noor encouraged more women to seek higher political office, including positions as governors, senators, members of parliament and members of county assemblies. Gender equality, she insisted, is not solely a women’s responsibility. Men must become active partners by encouraging, mentoring and supporting women leaders.
She outlined a clear vision for Garissa County and Northern Kenya: a region where every child attends school, every woman has economic opportunity, every young person has hope, and every community enjoys peace, prosperity and inclusive development. The true promise of devolution, she said, is that no one is left behind because of gender, age, disability or origin.
Addressing leaders, parents and young women directly, former MP Sophia called for continued investment in education, healthcare, water, infrastructure and youth empowerment. She urged communities to protect girls, educate children equally and reject harmful cultural practices. To young women, she offered a message of encouragement: believe in yourselves, work hard and never stop dreaming, because Kenya needs their leadership, ideas and courage.
Together, she concluded, Kenyans can build a nation where leadership rests on competence, integrity and service rather than gender.
