Trans Nzoia Pushes Gender Inclusion in Planning as Officials Highlight Barriers Facing Deaf Community

Trans Nzoia County has intensified efforts to integrate gender perspectives into development planning, budgeting and service delivery, with county officials calling for stronger inclusion of women, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in public programmes.

Speaking during a gender mainstreaming workshop organised by the County Government of Trans Nzoia in partnership with the Kenya Devolution Support Programme II (KDSP II), County Executive Committee Member for Gender, Youth, Sports and Culture Eliud Tormoi said county departments must work together to ensure no resident is left behind.

Tormoi said strengthening the capacity of devolved units was critical in enabling counties to effectively finance, manage and account for public resources while delivering services fairly.

“To fix service delivery, we must move seamlessly in the same direction on issues of integration so that we do not marginalise our fellow human beings. We must treat everybody in the right way, and this is a stark reminder to all of us to walk this journey together,” said Tormoi.

The CECM raised concern over the challenges faced by persons with hearing impairments, noting that many continue to experience communication barriers while seeking essential services in hospitals, banks, offices and legal institutions.

He said the county must invest in qualified sign language interpreters and train frontline public officers in Kenyan Sign Language to prevent misunderstandings and safeguard the rights of deaf persons.

“Without interpreters, deaf patients can face serious misunderstandings that may lead to misdiagnosis or improper medical care. Imagine a deaf patient being forced to write on paper for a doctor to understand their condition before issuing a prescription. This leads to delays and poor service delivery,” he said.

Tormoi added that the lack of interpretation services in many institutions has left members of the deaf community feeling excluded and unable to effectively advocate for themselves.

“The deaf community continues to battle deep-rooted misconceptions and negative stereotypes caused simply by a lack of communication tools,” he said.

He commended the gender mainstreaming programme for equipping county staff with skills to undertake independent capacity performance assessments and improve the prioritisation of infrastructure projects.

KDSP II Gender Officer Robert Kibii said there was a need to strengthen working relationships between the national and county governments while improving oversight, public participation and accountability.

Kibii said institutionalising civic engagement would help promote transparent decision-making and ensure communities play an active role in development planning.

Pamela Indimuli, the officer in charge of Social Development in Kitale Municipality, echoed the call for accountability, saying transparency was essential in the implementation of public projects.

She warned against late planning of meetings and programmes, saying such practices often result in the exclusion of women and other vulnerable groups.

Indimuli said women’s participation in development remains a key driver of inclusive growth, poverty reduction and community resilience.

“By empowering women economically, politically and socially, societies unlock untapped human potential, improve health and education outcomes, and accelerate progress towards global sustainable development goals,” she said.

The Trainer of Trainers noted that gender inequality is driven by deep-rooted social norms and power imbalances, calling for a multi-sectoral approach involving policymakers, public institutions, communities and development partners.

The workshop brought together county officers and stakeholders to strengthen gender-responsive governance and ensure development programmes respond to the needs of all residents across Trans Nzoia County.