Background

The Education, Gender, Youth, Children, Sports, Culture and Social Services Committee is tasked with considering, reviewing and monitoring policy and legislation on matters relating to education, gender, youth, sports, culture and social services and making relevant recommendations. Also, the committee monitors the implementation and adherence of international standards and national policy and legislation at the county level and makes appropriate recommendations. Besides, the committee also handles all matters related to the 7 mentioned sectoral areas in the 47 County Governments. The committee also acts as a liaison between the Counties and other National Government agencies.

Legal Framework

The primary source of legislation of the committee’s activities is the Constitution of Kenya 2010 and policies. The other key sources of legislation include;

• County Government (Amendment) Act, 2016
• Basic Education Act, 2013
• Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Act, 2013
• Teachers Service Commission Act, 2015
• Matrimonial Property Act, 2014
• Marriage Act, 2014
• Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Act, 2011
• Children’s Act, 2001
• National Gender and Equality Commission Act, 2011
• The Sexual Offences Act, 2006
• Persons with Disability Act, 2003
• The National Cohesion and Integration Act, 2008
• HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act, 2006
• Kenya Citizenship and Immigration Act, 2011
• National Employment Authority Act, 2016
• National Youth Council Act, 2009
• Kenya National Youth Council Act, 2009
• Sports Act, 2013
• Traditional Knowledge and Culture Expressions Act, 2016
• The Social Assistance Act, 2013

Approach to undertaking Committee’s business

The committee functions through;

• Sectoral forums involving County Executive Members, Chief Officers and Directors
• Intergovernmental forums which bridge cross-cutting sectoral issues between the two levels of government
• Stakeholder engagements to enhance the Counties’ capacity in handling the devolved functions
• Public participation and sensitization through County level roundtables on gender issues

Status Briefs (Current agendas/issued being addressed by the Committee)

Gender: The Gender Mainstreaming Guidance Note developed by CoG in partnership with the State Department for Gender Affairs and UN Women has been submitted to the Ministry of Devolution and Planning to be annexed to the development of the 2nd generation County Integrated Development Plans (CIDPs) guidelines. The note has also been shared with Counties to aid in mainstreaming gender in all the processes at the County level. Currently, the committee is implementing a Project on Gender mainstreaming supported by UN Women Kenya Country Office extended to the financial years 2017/18 and 2018/19.

Education: The committee has engaged various stakeholders in establishing the Early Childhood Development and Education Scheme of Service and is currently in the process of finalizing the Scheme of Service for ECDE Teachers. The committee is collaborating with the Ministry of Education’s Directorate of Technical and Vocational Education and Training and the Numerical Machining Complex in harmonizing the quality of equipment and tools used in County Vocational Training Centers (VTCs).

The County Governments will receive a conditional grant of Kes. 2Billion to be disbursed to various Vocational Training Centers across the Country in order to address issues of accessibility and quality.

Sports: The committee is engaging Athletics Kenya and the Ministry of Education to spearhead the development of a proposal to develop sports specifically fields and track events, mountain biking, marathon and cross country athletics. The committee has offered technical support towards the organization of the Kenya Youth Inter County Association (KYISA) games. KYISA has held three editions of the games in Laikipia, Kwale and Siaya Counties.

Children and Youth: We completed the initial phase of a project on reaping Demographic Dividend for youth and children on data mapping. On children, we held the inaugural Children’s Devolution Conference in February 2017 where over 300 boys and girls participated across the 47 Counties. A communique was developed that was presented to concerned stakeholders for implementation.

Opportunities that the Committee Offers

The committee has seen the establishment of a Joint Gender Intergovernmental Structure which will further strengthen co-ordination between the National and County Governments. It offers a platform for consultation and capacity building initiatives for County Governments. The inaugural Children’s Devolution Conference and Governors’ Gender Roundtables have been avenues for public participation to enhance governance at the County level.

Impact/Breakthroughs/Key Achievements

• Successfully reviewed and monitored policies; Draft Gender Policy, National Policy on Community Development,
• Draft Scheme of Service for ECDE Teachers, Basic Education Curriculum Framework and Draft County Policy on Sexual and Gender Based Violence.
• Profiled the need for gender mainstreaming as a priority concern at both the Council and County Governments and as a result we have the CoG gender policy
• Strengthened partnerships with National Government, Development Partners and Civil Society Organizations among others

Resources (Information needed)

Current Sector Challenges

• Limited financial resources: Most County Governments do not factor in gender responsive budgeting initiatives hence gender remains underfunded. Effective execution of other functions including early childhood, technical and vocational education is hampered due to limited budgets
• Transfer of County officers to other departments: Setbacks occur when County officers experienced in gender issues are transferred to other departments hence creating a skills gap within the department
• Slow uptake and implementation of proposed legislation affecting the sectoral areas: Devolved governments have faced challenges in harmonizing the implementation of county legislation and assimilation of national policies and legislation.
• The concurrent function of gender: As an undefined role, the gender function is concurrently implemented at the county and national level which creates double-tasking.
• Weak collaboration between the Committee and the County Officials: The committee has faced difficulties in coordination of activities between the County Governments and the National Government

Key Lessons from the Committees Cycle (2013-2017)

• Need for strengthened collaborative engagement between the two levels of government for better service delivery
• Need to conduct more capacity building activities for County officials
• Expansion and extension of partnership opportunities with stakeholders
• Enhanced public participation and sensitization of the devolved functions handled by the committee
• Consolidation of gains made through documentation of the achievements and challenges for the Committee is part of the knowledge management process at CoG

Priorities and support required from Committee leadership from September, 2017

• Partnership development in stakeholders’ analysis and mapping
• Strengthen intergovernmental forums and donor round tables/meetings
• Need for capacity building and sensitization through workshops/trainings on gender mainstreaming initiatives for County officials
• Induction for the committee members; Governors, CECs in charge of the various sectors under the committee, Chief Officers and Directors
• Conducting evidence based approach research/studies/survey, data collection and validation specific to the committee
• Development of model laws/policies for Counties through lobbying and advocacy; review and position of CoG on policies and legislations developed at the national level
• Review of policies and legislations that govern the sports sector to be in line with the devolved system of governance. Such amendment includes Sports Act (2013)