By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 12 June 2026 - President William Ruto's administration is intensifying efforts to create what it describes as a more inclusive and just society, with a renewed commitment to ensure that no Kenyan is excluded from national development on the basis of gender, identity or social status.
Deputy President Prof. Kithure Kindiki on Friday said the government was determined to uplift marginalized communities and vulnerable groups and transform them into active contributors to the country's economic and social progress.
Speaking at Harambee House Annex in Nairobi during a meeting with commissioners of the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC), Prof. Kindiki said inclusivity remains a central pillar of the Kenya Kwanza administration's governance agenda.
"The government is committed to creating an inclusive and just society where somebody's gender or identity is not seen as a source of exclusion but a source of national strength," he said.
He added that the true measure of a society lies in how it treats its most vulnerable citizens.
"A society's strength is measured by how it handles the marginalized, weak and vulnerable," the Deputy President noted.
His remarks come at a time when the government is under increasing pressure to address concerns over inequality, gender discrimination and the exclusion of vulnerable populations from economic opportunities and decision-making processes.
Prof. Kindiki said President Ruto's administration is committed to ensuring that every Kenyan enjoys equal treatment and access to opportunities as guaranteed by the Constitution, regardless of their background.
He described the National Gender and Equality Commission as a key institution in advancing that vision, pledging full government support to enable it to effectively discharge its mandate.
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"We will strengthen this commission. We will support this commission and create an enabling environment to deliver. We will respect its decisional, operational, financial and administrative independence," he said.
The Deputy President also met chairpersons and heads of constitutional commissions and independent offices, where discussions focused on strengthening collaboration between government and oversight institutions while safeguarding their autonomy.
He emphasized that although the commissions enjoy constitutional independence, they require adequate support and facilitative environments to effectively execute their mandates.
"While these institutions retain decisional, financial, administrative and operational independence, they require an enabling environment for the discharge of their respective mandates," he said.
The inclusivity push coincides with the government's broader efforts to tackle gender-based violence and femicide, issues that have sparked national concern in recent months.
Prof. Kindiki revealed that President Ruto has directed the acceleration of legal, policy and administrative reforms aimed at curbing the rising cases of gender-based violence and killings of women.
The Deputy President said implementation of recommendations by the Presidential Technical Working Group on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide is already underway, with additional measures being processed through Cabinet and Parliament.
As the government rolls out reforms, attention will now shift to how quickly the promised policies translate into tangible benefits for marginalized communities and vulnerable Kenyans across the country.
Ruto Pushes Inclusive Agenda for Marginalised Kenyans
Inclusivity remains a central pillar of the Kenya Kwanza administration's governance agenda.