Kenya strides towards gender parity with notable gains in women's inclusion

Kenya is making commendable strides toward achieving gender parity, according to the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), whose latest figures show significant progress in areas such as women’s representation in leadership, financial inclusion and decision-making.

Firstly, on the leadership and decision-making front, KNBS says the Constitution of Kenya has boosted women's representation in top positions.

“Notably, female Members of Parliament have increased fivefold to 103 in 2024 from 22 in 2010. In the same period, female judges of superior courts increased from 11 to 83, who include three judges of the Supreme Court,” KNBS said.

“One arm of the government, for instance, the Judiciary, is headed by a female Chief Justice while four constitutional commissions/independent offices are headed by a female CEO.

KNBS explains that women's representation boosts equality by tapping the quality of technical and leadership skills and knowledge they possess.

“In addition, it creates visibility of the opportunity cost suffered by excluding women in top leadership and management levels.”

Nutrition and healthcare

Looking at the rights parameter, KNBS says the country has also made notable progress in areas such as nutrition and healthcare for women and children.

It notes that child nutrition has seen marked improvements, particularly with a significant drop in stunting among girls, from 22.3 per cent in 2014 to 15.6 per cent in 2022.

While these figures show progress, the report urges further sustained efforts to combat other issues like wasting and obesity, which continue to affect the health and development of children, especially girls.

In alignment with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) targets, SDG 3, which emphasises the right to health, has also seen significant improvements in the provision of healthcare services, including reproductive health.

Data shows the proportion of women of reproductive age (15-49 years) whose need for family planning is met through modern methods has risen from 70.7 per cent in 2014 to 74.7 per cent in 2022.

“This is partly attributed to increased family planning services, increased awareness among women of their reproductive rights,” KNBS said.

The report also highlights that 86 per cent of married women are actively involved in decisions regarding their health, a sign of growing empowerment in women’s healthcare autonomy.

Nevertheless, KNBS says educational attainment remains a key driver of gender equality and empowerment, and the country has marked considerable improvements in girls' enrolment and retention at lower levels of education.

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However, gender parity remains an ongoing challenge at tertiary levels.

The report stresses the importance of continued investment and support to ensure that young women can pursue higher education, which is essential for their long-term empowerment and social mobility.

Financial inclusion has also seen a remarkable surge in recent years, according to KNBS. Nearly 8 in 10 women are now using bank accounts or mobile phones for financial transactions.

This increase has been particularly notable among wealthier households, where the use of financial services is more widespread.

The KNBS report reveals that government funding to affirmative action programs, such as the Women Enterprise Fund, has also risen substantially, benefitting thousands of women and girls.

The number of beneficiaries from the Women Enterprise Fund increased from 98,000 to 728,000, while the number of needy and vulnerable girls accessing government bursaries and scholarships through the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF) increased by 33 per cent.

The comprehensive report from the data firm, KNBS paints an encouraging picture of Kenya’s progress toward gender equality, but it also highlights areas where more work is needed.

The improvements point to a promising trajectory toward greater gender equality, emphasising that Kenya is on the right path to breaking down barriers and ensuring more equitable opportunities for women in Kenya.