A quick glance at current climate change policies indicates that Kenya, like many other African countries, is yet to mainstream gender in her climate change policies. During the 2014 Conference of Parties (COP) countries adopted the Lima Work Program on Gender which aims to advance implementation of gender-responsive climate policies and mandates across all areas of the negotiations. During the COP 21 in 2015 in Paris, Governments adopted the Paris agreement. A year later, at the COP 22 in Marakech Governments discussed the means of implementation of the Agreement. It was at this meeting that governments also agreed to extend the duration of the Lima Work Agreement by 3 years. However, all these political commitments are yet to be translated into action and specifically local action. There is a need for concerted efforts to ensure that the interests and voices of women are protected by strong policies and action. The media being the strongest agenda setter in this country can lead to this transformation.
The Writer is the Founder of Lets Do It Kenya, an organisation that uses technology to map waste and the convenor of the 21 September World Cleanup Day Celebrations in Kenya. Feedback and comments can be emailed to letsdoitkenya2018@gmail.com