KISUMU— Former Ijara MP and Chairperson of the National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS), Sophia Abdi Noor, has called for deliberate and sustained investment in women as the cornerstone of Kenya’s resilience and economic transformation.
Chair Sophia Abdi Noor was speaking in Kisumu County where she joined First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, the Principal Secretary for the State Department for Children Services, Carren Achieng Ageng’o, national and county government leaders, development partners and community representatives for engagements centered on women empowerment.
There is something special about being surrounded by young minds filled with curiosity, ambition and dreams for the future. Today, I met with learners at Lwala Kadawa Primary School in Kisumu West. pic.twitter.com/MNFGDSVhoh
— Mama Rachel Ruto, EGH (@MamaRachelRuto) September 8, 2026
Reflecting on the forum, Mrs. Sophia Abdi said the Kisumu engagement was a demonstration of responsive leadership that places people at the centre of development.
“In Kisumu County, we witnessed the power of leadership that listens, responds and creates opportunities,” she stated.
She underscored the central role Kenyan women have played in holding the nation together, noting that their contribution must no longer be treated as secondary.
“For decades, Kenyan women have carried families, sustained communities, built businesses, cultivated our farms and stood at the forefront of change. Their contribution to our country’s progress can never be treated as an afterthought,” she said.
According to , women’s empowerment must move beyond token programs to structural change that guarantees economic independence and leadership.
“Women’s empowerment must, therefore, be a deliberate national priority, not merely through programs and interventions but by creating lasting opportunities for women to earn, lead, own, invest and participate fully in the decisions that shape our society,” she noted.
The NCCS Chairperson pointed out that the overlapping challenges facing communities — ranging from drought, unemployment and poverty to rising economic pressures — require solutions that are both compassionate and practical. She stressed that women, especially those in vulnerable circumstances, must be given access to support that enables them to build sustainable livelihoods.
“We must ensure that women especially those in vulnerable circumstances have access to the support and opportunities necessary to build sustainable livelihoods and secure a better future for their families,” she added.
Former Ijara MP Sophia Abdi Noor lauded First Lady Rachel Ruto for leveraging her platform to champion the dignity and economic empowerment of women across the country.
“I applaud Mama Rachel Ruto for using her platform to champion initiatives that advance the dignity, welfare and economic empowerment of women. Her leadership reminds us that meaningful transformation begins when we invest in the people who hold our families and communities together,” she said.
She challenged fellow leaders to shift the development model from relief to resilience, calling for a decisive move away from dependency.
“As leaders, we must continue moving from dependency to opportunity, from vulnerability to resilience and from exclusion to meaningful participation,” she stated.
Mrs. Sophia Abdi Noor emphasized that Kenyan women are not passive beneficiaries waiting for empowerment, but active builders of the economy who need barriers removed.
“The women of Kenya are not waiting to be empowered; they are already contributing, leading, innovating and building. Our responsibility is to remove the barriers, expand the opportunities and ensure that every woman has the chance to realize her full potential.”
She concluded with a powerful reflection on the multiplier effect of investing in women:
“Empower a woman and you do not change one life; you strengthen a family, transform a community and shape the future of a nation!”
