By Quinter Atieno 
The Siaya County Government’s Department of Public Works, Roads, Energy, and Transport, in partnership with Practical Action, yesterday successfully launched the inaugural 'Gender, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI)' Training of Trainers program for county technical committees.
The primary objective of this training was to integrate GEDSI principles into the County Energy Plan, energy policies, and the Energy Investment Prospectus. By ensuring these frameworks are practical, measurable, and policy aligned, the department aims to secure increased financing and resourcing through enhanced data transparency and evidence based planning.
Madam Noreen Chebet, the Lead Consultant from Practical Action, spearheaded discussions on the vital role of GEDSI concepts in fostering inclusive energy planning and service delivery. She placed particular emphasis on identifying gaps and risks regarding gender identity, disability, and social inclusion within both existing and proposed county energy frameworks.
The interactive sessions facilitated deep dives into equity, equality, and intersectionality, while deconstructing prevalent myths about gender roles and their impact on energy consumption needs. Participants engaged in practical exercises and candid conversations regarding social norms and sexuality, encouraging them to "learn and unlearn" ingrained beliefs to better champion the inclusivity of all marginalized groups.
Day two of the intensive training concluded today with a focus on mitigation measures for emerging issues in the energy sector.
Stakeholders and the technical team agreed not only to document these plans but also to ensure compliance by establishing robust systems to monitor and evaluate progress indicators.
The meeting was attended by Dr. Nicholas Kut Ochogo – Chief Officer, Energy and Transport,Mr. Samuel Ogeda – Director Roads,Mr. Jared Abayo – Director Public Participation,Mr. Jared Ogot – Director Energy,Mr. Gabriel Oduong’-Director Environment,Mercy Kospir – Project Officer Practical Action,Mr. Okaro – Consultant, Practical Action,Representatives from the Department of Gender and PWD coordinator Mr Godfrey Okello among other stakeholders