Kenya urged to tackle gender inequality as world marks International Women's Day
In its statement, the NGEC highlighted Kenya's progress in gender equality, pointing to improvements in education, health, economic empowerment, and leadership opportunities for women.
As Kenya is set to join the global community in marking the International Women's Day on March 8, 2025, the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) is urging both the government and stakeholders to take bold and transformative action to tackle persistent gender inequality in the country.
This year's International Women's Day theme, "For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment," highlights the need to close the gender gap and ensure an inclusive future where no one is left behind, a message echoed by the NGEC in its statement.
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"As we commemorate International Women's Day 2025, NGEC calls for bold and transformative action to accelerate gender equality and women's empowerment. We must transition from conventional approaches to more impactful and sustainable strategies," said the commission.
In its statement, the NGEC highlighted Kenya's progress in gender equality, pointing to improvements in education, health, economic empowerment, and leadership opportunities for women.
"Kenya has made commendable progress towards the advancement of gender equality and women empowerment," NGEC stated.
"The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, upholds the principles of equality, inclusion, and non-discrimination, laying the groundwork for gender equality initiatives. Notable progress has been made in crucial areas such as education, health, economic empowerment, and legal protection for women and girls," NGEC added.
Additionally, the commission noted that the number of women in leadership positions has significantly increased, with the proportion of female governors rising from 6.3% in 2017 to 14.9% in 2022.
Despite these gains, the NGEC stressed that systemic barriers, including entrenched patriarchal structures and harmful cultural practices, continue to limit the potential of women and girls.
"The legislation of the two-thirds gender principle remains unpassed, with female MPs making up only 23% of the National Assembly and 31% of the Senate.
Gender-Based Violence, including femicide and online abuse, continues to rise, with 2024 marked as the worst year for femicide in Kenya," said the commission.
"Additionally, the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women, estimated at 4.7 hours per day compared to 1.7 hours for men [1], limits their opportunities for economic advancement and leadership participation,"it added.
In response, the commission called for the immediate enforcement of the Two-Thirds Gender Principle to ensure equitable representation of women in leadership and governance.
NGEC further advocated for the economic empowerment of women, pushing for greater access to financial resources and policies that support equal pay and career growth for women.
"We must transition from conventional approaches to more impactful and sustainable strategies," the Commission stated.
In the fight against gender-based violence, including femicide and online abuse, the Commission urged stronger legal frameworks and survivor-centered response mechanisms.
"The time to act is now," the NGEC emphasised in its statement, urging both the government and other stakeholders to take bold and transformative actions.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to working alongside all stakeholders to promote gender equality and eliminate discrimination in Kenya.
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