- In Kenya, women are less likely than men to have progressed to secondary school (40% vs. 43%) or post-secondary studies (21% vs. 30%).
- Among working-age adults, women are less likely than men to be employed (34% vs. 47%).
- Four in five Kenyans (81%) say women should have the same chance as men of being elected to public office.
- One in six Kenyans (16%) say women “often” or “always” experience sexual harassment in public spaces such as in markets, on the street, and in public transport.
Kenya has committed to advancing gender equality through various policy measures and frameworks, including its Constitution, which guarantees equality and freedom from gender discrimination (Republic of Kenya, 2010). The National Policy on Gender and Development aims to achieve gender equality and empower women by integrating gender considerations across all sectors, aligning with Kenya’s Vision 2030 principles for inclusive participation in national development (Republic of Kenya, 2019a; 2007).
Despite these efforts, gender inequality persists. A 2023 study found that compared to men, Kenyan women are less likely to be employed (60% vs. 70%) and earn 17.7% less per hour, with even wider wage gaps in women-dominated sectors such as education (38% less) and accommodations (29% less) (UN Women, 2023).
Kenya’s Constitution provides that no more than two-thirds of elected officials be of the same gender (Republic of Kenya, 2010). However, women currently hold only 23% of representative positions in Parliament, a slight increase from 22% in 2017 and 19% in 2013 (Inter-Parliamentary Union, 2013, 2017, 2025). Similarly, the Public Service Diversity Policy prescribes the two-thirds principle for public institutions, but its enforcement remains inconsistent (Republic of Kenya, 2016). The 2023/2024 auditor general’s report revealed that men occupy up to 75% of positions in three parastatals, while the National Gender and Equality Commission’s 2023/2024 report found that women hold only 37% of leadership roles in public institutions (Obiria, 2025; Republic of Kenya, 2025).
The Education and Training Sector Gender Policy aims to eliminate gender gaps in education by promoting equitable access to learning opportunities (Republic of Kenya, 2015). As of 2022, Kenya boasts high literacy rates of 94% among men and 91% among women. However, women are less likely than men to attain post-secondary education (19% vs. 21%) and are twice as likely to have no education compared to men, 6% vs. 3%. These disparities are even more pronounced in arid and semi-arid regions, where up to 71% of women lack formal schooling (Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, 2022).
The 2024 Global Gender Gap Index ranks Kenya 75th out of 146 countries, marking modest improvements in economic and health parity since 2023 and declines in educational and political parity (World Economic Forum, 2024).
Gender-based violence and harassment further illustrate the gap between policy and lived experience. A 2021 study on public transport revealed that 45% of women in Nairobi reported experiencing verbal and emotional abuse, while 28% encountered sexual harassment when using these services. Only 7% of these incidents were reported, and just 1% resulted in the apprehension of perpetrators (UN Women, 2021). Moreover, a 2019 survey found that women aged 18-24 are more than twice as likely to have experienced childhood sexual violence as men (16% vs. 6%). Among female victims, about one-fifth (19%) identified a schoolmate as their first perpetrator (Republic of Kenya, 2019b).
Findings from Afrobarometer’s 2024 survey in Kenya suggest that women continue to face discrimination, sexual harassment, and other challenges to the development of their potential. While many Kenyans say women and girls are likely to be believed if they complain of discrimination, a broader majority also think the police and courts need to do more to protect them from such treatment.
Kenyan women are less likely than men to have higher education and paying jobs. While few respondents say that families still prioritise boys over girls when it comes to education, significant minorities report that husbands and relatives prevent women from taking employment and that sexual harassment of women and girls in public spaces, including schools, is common. A majority of citizens support women’s equal chance at being elected to public office, but men are less likely than women to endorse equality in politics.
