NAIROBI, 25th February 2022, (PSCU)– First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has extolled the Kenya Girl Guides Association (KGGA) as a transformative institution whose servant leadership over the last century had helped improve the wellbeing of young women and girls in the country.
The First Lady, who is the national patron of KGGA, said the institution had stayed true to the ethos of its founders, Lord Baden-Powell and Lady Olave Baden-Powell, to become a highly respected institution in Kenya and globally.
“The association (KGGA) has grown into a respected and admired movement; living true to its core beliefs of upholding human dignity, walking in integrity, exemplifying servant leadership, demonstrating spirituality, and being a model citizen,” she said.
First Lady Margaret Kenyatta spoke on Friday at CITAM Karen in Nairobi City County during KGGA’s centenary celebrations. The auspicious occasion was also used to mark this year’s World Thinking Day.
The First Lady described KGAA’s journey from 1922 to date as epic saying the scouting association had firmly upheld timeless and progressive human values over the 100 years of its existence.
“It is because of your voice, your contribution, your leadership, and your sacrifice in driving the agenda of empowering the girl child and the woman, that we stand tall today,” she said.
The First Lady observed that KGGA’s success over the years can be seen through the organization’s beneficiaries who she said continue to positively influence their communities and contribute to Kenya’s socioeconomic progress.
“As Patron, I am also proud to see members of the Kenya Girl Guides, some of who we are recognizing today, continue to blaze the trail. The footprints of your devotion and impact is evident in our communities, our learning institutions, the market place, our nation and beyond our borders,” the First Lady said.
She noted that the success of KGGA was largely due to the inter-generational make up of the institution saying the model that’s defined by mentorship, growth and learbubd should be emulated by other institutions engaged in developing future generations.
The First Lady, who launched KGGA’s guiding program, encouraged the organization to aggressively grow its membership in line with its new recruitment plan and strategic focus.
“So, as we commemorate 100 years of the Kenya Girl Guides Association, it is my hope that we shall remain inspired to learn, create and be part of the change we want to see in our communities, our institutions and our country Kenya,” she said.
Public Service CS Prof Margaret Kobia, who also spoke at the commemoration, hailed KGGA as a change maker whose programs over the last 10 decades had helped grow the profile of Kenyan young women and girls locally and on the international stage.
On her part, KGGA’s Chief Commissioner Prof Faith Nguru appealed to the Government to assist the association in securing the institution’s parcel of land in Nyeri County where the movement’s founder was buried.
Further, Prof Nguru petitioned the Government to zero-rate Value Added Tax (VAT) on girl guides’ kits as part of incentives aimed at enabling the 350,000-member association reach its target of 1 million membership.
Nairobi Governor Ann Kananu, Youth Affairs CAS Nadia Abdalla and Curriculum Development PS Prof Fatuma Chege also spoke at the celebration that was attended by hundreds of Kenyan and international scout movement stakeholders.