Women Political Leaders (WPL) today announced the launch of the WPL Kenya Cohort, a new national platform for women parliamentarians, which will be established in partnership with the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA).
The initiative builds on WPL’s global network of around 12,000 women political leaders and expands its work to strengthen national leadership platforms across Africa.
The inaugural Founding Meeting of the Kenya Cohort will take place in Nairobi on 22 July 2026, bringing together women parliamentarians from across political parties for a closed door roundtable focused on defining the cohort’s priorities, governance and future programme of work.
Hosted by KEWOPA and Women Political Leaders, the meeting will be facilitated by Hon. Neema Lugangira, Strategic Advisor for Africa at Women Political Leaders.
The Kenya Cohort will serve as a permanent national platform through which members can strengthen relationships, coordinate leadership efforts to strengthen collaboration and leadership across issues such as democratic governance, digital transformation, health, peace and security and women’s political participation.
The founding meeting will also formally mark the appointment of Hon. Umulkher Harun Mohamed as WPL Country Ambassador for Kenya, joining WPL’s international network of women political leaders representing national governments and parliaments around the world.
Speaking ahead of the founding meeting, Hon. Neema Lugangira said:
“The Kenya Cohort is more than a single convening but the foundation of a long-term platform through which women parliamentarians can strengthen relationships, exchange experience and work together on shared national priorities. Through WPL’s partnership with KEWOPA, we are creating a lasting mechanism for leadership, collaboration and international engagement.“
Mercy Mwangi, Executive Director, KEWOPA, said:
“KEWOPA is proud to partner with Women Political Leaders (WPL) to launch the WPL Kenya Cohort. This initiative creates an important opportunity for women parliamentarians from across political parties to come together, strengthen relationships and exchange practical experience in support of more inclusive leadership.
By partnering with WPL, we are connecting Kenyan women leaders to a respected global network that will foster collaboration, shared learning and collective action for years to come.”
Hon. Umulkher Harun Mohamed, WPL Country Ambassador for Kenya, said:
“The WPL Kenya Cohort provides an important opportunity for women parliamentarians to strengthen relationships across political parties, learn from one another’s experiences and work together on issues that matter to the people we serve. I am honoured to serve as WPL Country Ambassador for Kenya and look forward to helping build a strong and lasting community of women leaders connected to WPL’s global network.”
The Kenya Cohort forms part of WPL’s wider global network of country platforms, creating opportunities for women political leaders to exchange knowledge, strengthen leadership and contribute to more representative and responsive democratic institutions.
Note to editors
About WPL
Women Political Leaders (WPL) is the global network of women politicians. Its mission is to increase the number and influence of women in political leadership positions. WPL communities include women in political office – Presidents, Prime Ministers, Cabinet Ministers, and Members of Parliament.
About the Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA)
The Kenya Women Parliamentary Association (KEWOPA) is a non-partisan, cross-party caucus of women parliamentarians committed to advancing gender-responsive governance, strengthening democracy, and promoting women’s leadership and rights.
Established in 2003 and formally registered in 2007, KEWOPA today brings together 102 elected and nominated women legislators from the National Assembly and Senate.
Working alongside development partners and state and non-state actors, KEWOPA champions legislation, oversight, and representation that advance gender equality and inclusive governance.
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