By Caroline Katana
The air was thick with determination at the Diamond Leisure Beach Resort in Diani. Lawyers, county leaders, and women’s rights champions from across Kenya gathered for the FIDA-Kenya Annual Members’ Retreat 2025, a two-day event aimed at redefining strategies for gender equality and justice.
FIDA-Kenya’s Executive Director Ann Ireri, opened the retreat by calling for collective action to dismantle barriers that continue to limit women’s opportunities.
“We have made strides, but the work ahead is still immense. We must ensure that every woman, regardless of where she lives, has access to justice and the tools to improve her life,” she said.
FIDA-KENYA executive director, Ann Ireri
Her sentiments were echoed by FIDA-Kenya’s chairperson, Christine Kung’u, who reminded participants of the power of solidarity.
“Our strength lies in unity. When women come together, policy changes happen, communities transform, and doors open where they were once closed,” Kung’u noted.
From Savings Groups to Registered Companies
Kwale Governor Fatuma Achani also a FIDA member, used her address to highlight a transformative economic empowerment strategy — supporting women’s Village Savings and Loan Associations (VSLAs) to transition into fully registered companies.
She shared how this approach is already reshaping livelihoods in Kwale.
Kwale county governor, Fatuma Achani
“We are equipping women not only to save but to trade, to supply, and to compete for contracts. When women run companies, they create jobs and inspire a new generation,” Achani said.
The Governor emphasized that empowering women economically was inseparable from advancing gender rights, calling for stronger partnerships between government, legal bodies, and civil society.
A 40-Year Journey of Advocacy
This year’s retreat also marked a historic milestone — FIDA-Kenya’s 40th anniversary. Since its inception, the organization has offered free legal aid to thousands of women, championed landmark gender laws, and fought against gender-based violence, discrimination, and harmful cultural practices.
In reflecting on this journey, Principal Secretary for Gender Anne Wang’ombe acknowledged FIDA’s role in pushing national conversations forward.
“For four decades, FIDA has been the voice for the voiceless. They have turned legal jargon into hope for women who thought justice was beyond their reach,” she said.
She urged county and national actors to invest more in gender equality programs, stressing that laws alone were not enough without effective implementation.
FIDA-KENYA chairperson Christine Kungu
Towards a Future of Equality
The retreat blended reflection with forward-looking strategies — from expanding legal aid and training paralegals in rural areas, to promoting women’s participation in leadership and entrepreneurship.
As the sun set over the Indian Ocean on the final day, there was a shared understanding among participants: the fight for women’s rights in Kenya is far from over, but with coordinated action, the next decade could be transformative.
“We must keep pushing,” Ireri reminded the gathering. “Because every girl born today deserves to grow up in a Kenya where her rights are not debated but respected.”
