Diaspora Affairs Principal Secretary Roseline Njogu has urged the international community to move beyond rhetoric and take concrete steps to advance the Women, Peace and Security agenda, stressing that women must be recognised not only as beneficiaries of peace but as essential leaders and partners in building lasting security.
Ms. Njogu was the chief guest at a high-level side event of the Women, Peace and Security Chiefs of Defence Network (WPS CHODs) held on the margins of the 81st Session of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting took place at Kenya’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York and brought together military attaches from more than 40 countries.
Co-chaired by Major General E. Rugendo, the event was convened under the theme “Inclusive Security: Strengthening Operations Through Gender Awareness.” Its primary objectives were to raise the profile of the WPS CHODs Network, encourage more United Nations Member States to join, and advance Kenya’s priorities during its one-year chairmanship of the Network.
Kenya assumed the chairmanship of the global Network on 26 June 2026, succeeding Ireland. The position is held by Kenya’s Chief of the Defence Forces, General Charles Kahariri, placing the country at the forefront of efforts to integrate the Women, Peace and Security agenda into defence policy, military training, leadership, planning and operations. Kenya is scheduled to hand over the chairmanship to the Philippines in June 2027.
In her remarks, Ms. Njogu reaffirmed the enduring relevance of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 as a critical framework for ensuring women’s full, equal and meaningful participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, peacekeeping and decision-making processes.
“Women are not merely beneficiaries of peace and security; they are also essential actors, leaders and partners in shaping sustainable peace and security,” she stated.
The Principal Secretary highlighted Kenya’s constitutional commitment to inclusion, noting that inclusiveness is enshrined among the country’s national values and principles of governance. She pointed to the ongoing implementation of Kenya’s third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security for the period 2025–2029, which prioritises participation, protection, prevention, and relief and recovery.
Ms. Roseline Njogu also outlined progress in increasing women’s representation within the Kenya Defence Forces, the National Police Service and other security institutions. She noted that the Ministry of Defence has intensified gender mainstreaming efforts, strengthening the integration of gender perspectives across military leadership, training and operational planning.
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Established in 2017, the WPS CHODs Network provides senior military leaders with a dedicated platform to exchange lessons, promote good practices and address institutional barriers to the full implementation of the Women, Peace and Security agenda. The Network currently comprises approximately 60 members, including United Nations Member States, the African Union and the United Nations itself.
Ms. Roseline Njogu emphasised that Kenya’s leadership of the Network offers a valuable opportunity to deepen cooperation among defence institutions, draw on international best practices and build more responsive, representative and effective security forces. She called on additional countries to join the Network and reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to advancing inclusive security through sustained partnership and strategic military leadership
