By Lilian Museka
Nairobi, Kenya: Many African states have shut their borders in the wake of Covid-19 to minimize the spread. Most flights have been canceled with land and sea borders closed while health screening has become mandatory quarantine for those lucky to travel.
Those transporting essential goods have not been spared from the tests with WHO noting the increasing incidents of cross-border transmission between countries, mainly through long-distance truck drivers.
This has hampered the flow of humanitarian aid and workers as organizations are forced to negotiate for a humanitarian corridor to allow safe transit of aid to hard-hit regions.
Kenya is currently facing multiple catastrophes that may fuel the spread of Covid-19. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has since warned an alarming outbreak of another round of locusts which CNBC terms the worst infestation in Kenya for over 70 years.
Heavy rains also continue to be experienced in most parts of the country causing floods to spell disaster leaving a trail of destruction including infrastructure, crops, and homes causing many to be displaced.
Apart from the government restricting movement in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kilifi and Kwale counties, in April, the country issued restrictions in and out of Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps as a measure to contain the spread of the virus. The humanitarian movement was allowed on a “case by case” basis.
“The restrictions have really hampered the flow of humanitarian aid and workers to the most vulnerable people in our society, with women making a majority of them.”
Speaking during the launch of the second Kenya National Action Plan (KNAP II) on the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, that seeks to strengthen, accelerate and provide accountability on implementation of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Ambassador Rachel Omamo said women make up the largest population of the hard hit by the current disasters and there was the need for measures to be put in place to mitigate the situation which has been aggravated by Covid-19.
“In all disastrous situations: violence, conflicts, human trafficking, floods, drought, terrorism, and the current covid-19 pandemic, women suffer most as they are at the heart of bearing more responsibilities.” She said.
She added that there was a need to recognize the great role women play in resolving a crisis and that they should be included in all policy-making tables as they are better placed to understand situations affecting them.
Omamo called on the need to actualize the resolution (S/RES/1325) on women, peace, and security passed in 2000 which urges all actors to increase the participation of women and incorporate gender perspectives in all United Nations peace and security efforts.
Building on lessons from the first KNAP, the plan specifically targets critical security priorities in Kenya including climate change; violent extremism; gender-based violence (GBV); forced migration and human trafficking; and humanitarian disasters.
The resolution reaffirms the important role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts, peace negotiations, peace-building, peacekeeping, humanitarian response, and in post-conflict reconstruction and stresses the importance of their equal participation and full involvement in all efforts for the maintenance and promotion of peace and security.
The theme highlighted the Centrality of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda, and COVID-19 Pandemic. KNAP II will run for the period 2020-2024. The call for Action will center on four Pillars: participation; prevention, protection; relief, and recovery.
“The launch comes at a time when Kenya, and the world at large, is going through extraordinary challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has, however, not deterred us from delivering on our national priorities, including our national agenda on involving women in peace and security agenda, Omamo added.
Also present during the webinar launch was Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of Public Service and Gender Prof. Margaret Kobia who noted how local women peace-builders make notable progress in implementing the WPS agenda in different counties,” This demonstrates how the localization process has given women the space to take part in decision-making and resolution of local disputes, as well as the incredible role of women, are playing in peace negotiations and their leadership in continuing to implement the Kenya National Action Plan.” She added.
At the same time, Finland Ambassador to Kenya, H.E Amb. Erik Lundberg noted that despite the many achievements of the women’s revolution, women were still facing violence, and discriminated against on representation in the peace and security missions and called for women’s full and equal participation in all aspects of conflict prevention and resolution, peacekeeping, and peace-building. These remarks were echoed by theUN resident coordinator Siddharth Chatterjee, Canada’s High commissioner to Kenya Lisa Stadelbauer and CS for defense Monica Juma.
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