When women lead locally, they strengthen democracy globally. That powerful message is resonating on the international stage as Scholastica Masidis Madowo, the Member of County Assembly for South East Alego, joins global leaders at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women in New York as part of Kenya’s official delegation.
Representing the Women Caucus, the Siaya legislator is using the high-level platform convened by the United Nations to spotlight the transformative power of grassroots leadership while championing the rights and welfare of women in local communities—particularly widows whose protection she has consistently advocated for within Siaya County.
Masidis Madowo is attending the landmark global summit alongside fellow women leaders Milka Areba of Mombasa and Martha Kokie of Mariakani in Kilifi County. The gathering brings together policymakers, activists and leaders from across the world committed to advancing gender equality and expanding opportunities for women in governance, economic empowerment and social development.
For the South East Alego MCA, the forum presents a rare opportunity to elevate the voice of rural communities to a global audience. She is expected to highlight the groundbreaking Siaya Widows Protection Act, an initiative she has passionately championed in the county assembly to safeguard widows from property dispossession, discrimination and economic marginalisation. By sharing the legislative experience from Siaya, Masidis Madowo aims to demonstrate how county-level governance can shape progressive policies that protect vulnerable women while strengthening social justice.
Her participation reflects a broader movement in which local government leaders are increasingly influencing global conversations on democracy, inclusion and gender equity. In Siaya, Masidis Madowo has built a reputation as a vocal defender of women’s rights while also advocating for infrastructure development and youth empowerment initiatives designed to uplift communities and expand opportunities for young people.
The Kenyan delegation itself represents a diverse coalition of grassroots women leaders. Milka Areba has earned recognition for championing initiatives focused on economic development, social inclusion and self-sufficiency, with a strong emphasis on programmes that promote gender equality. Meanwhile, Martha Kokie is widely respected for her work in Mariakani, where she has driven key milestones in infrastructure development, education and economic empowerment, helping stimulate sustainable growth and employment opportunities in her region.
At the centre of the UN discussions is the urgent need to expand women’s political participation from local governments to the multilateral stage while ensuring leadership structures truly reflect the communities they serve. Much of the dialogue focuses on how grassroots women can become more actively involved in decision-making processes within local and regional governments.
For Masidis Madowo, the message from Siaya to the world is clear: the path to stronger democracies begins at the grassroots where women leaders interact daily with communities and translate lived experiences into practical policies.
Her presence at the global summit underscores a growing recognition that transformative ideas do not only emerge from national capitals or international institutions. They are often forged in counties, villages and local assemblies where leaders work closest to the people.
As the session unfolds in New York, the South East Alego MCA is carrying with her the aspirations of women, widows and youth from Siaya—demonstrating that empowering women locally is not only a regional priority but a global democratic imperative.
