Kitui County policymakers are taking decisive steps to integrate the care economy into their development agenda, recognizing it as a crucial driver for both economic growth and gender equality. This commitment was solidified in June 2025 during a pivotal engagement convened by the Association of Women in Agriculture Kenya (AWAK), a key partner in the WE-Care Project.

The impactful gathering brought together County Executive Committee Members (CECMs) from vital ministries, including Gender, Agriculture, Health, Finance, Education, and Environment. During the session, these leaders collectively reaffirmed their dedication to addressing unpaid care work through transformative policy actions. Their commitment encompasses recognizing, reducing, redistributing, and representing this often-invisible labor.

Key policy interventions highlighted for their potential to revolutionize the lives of women in Kitui County include:

• Scaling modern farming practices and extension services to boost agricultural productivity and efficiency.
• Promoting childcare by establishing daycare centers in major markets, offering crucial support to working mothers.
• Expanding access to Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) classes, ensuring better foundational learning for children.
• Enhancing preventive healthcare through the robust efforts of Community Health Promoters (CHPs).
• Equipping dispensaries to better serve the unique healthcare needs of rural women caregivers.

These strategic interventions are already demonstrating tangible benefits, actively unlocking time, generating income-earning opportunities, and restoring dignity for women across the county.

“We applaud Kitui’s leadership for boldly walking the talk and advancing care-centered policies that place women’s economic empowerment at the core of county development,” stated an AWAK representative. The engagement underscores a strong commitment to creating an environment where women can thrive economically, unburdened by disproportionate care responsibilities.

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