Kenya advances in global gender equality rankings

Kenya has made notable progress in bridging the gender gaps, according to the latest Global Gender Gap Index.

 The 2024 list by the World Economic Forum indicates that the country has moved from the 77th position to 75th globally, with a score of 0.712.

 This improvement highlights the nation's ongoing efforts to close gender disparities despite persistent challenges.

The 2024 Global Gender Gap Index shows that while no country has achieved full gender parity, 97 per cent of the economies sampled and listed have closed more than 60 per cent of their gaps, up from 85 per cent in 2006.

Kenya ranks 13th in Africa and 4th in East Africa - behind Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania - indicating that while it leads in some areas, there is still room for improvement.

The Global Gender Gap Index focuses on four key dimensions: Economic Participation and Opportunity, Educational Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Empowerment.

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 Kenya ranks 13th, 135th, 52nd and 80th in these categories, respectively.

Compared to the 2023 report, the country has improved in Economic Participation and Opportunity, together with Health and Survival.

However, east Africa’s biggest economy has dropped in Political Empowerment from 75th to 80th and Educational Attainment with a score of 0.877.

Executive Director of Global Compact Network Kenya, Judy Njino, attributes the improvement to progressive government policies and legislation aimed at promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.

“The Kenyan government has instituted crucial policies like the 2/3 Gender Rule and the National Policy on Gender and Development (2019),” says Njino.“

She adds, “These policies promote gender equality and women's empowerment, particularly in the public sector, where we see higher representation of women in key sectors like health and education.”

The private sector has also played a vital role in reducing the gender pay gap by adopting gender-responsive policies.

However, Njino acknowledges challenges in fully implementing these policies across all sectors, particularly in politics.

Kenyan companies are increasingly committed to gender equality, driven by initiatives like the Women's Empowerment Principles (WEPs) and programs such as Target Gender Equality.

“Seventy-four companies in Kenya have made a global commitment to promote gender equality in the workplace, marketplace, and community,” Njino says.

Collaborative efforts by various stakeholders, including Global Compact Network Kenya, have furthered gender equality through campaigns and partnerships with both the private and public sectors.

“Efforts like ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality’ have engaged both public and private sectors in advancing gender parity,” Njino says, highlighting partnerships with UN Women and Nairobi Securities Exchange.

In the past year, Kenya has seen significant advancements in political representation and education.

“We've observed increased women's representation in political offices,” Njino notes, referencing improvements driven by gender quotas and advocacy efforts.

She points out that Kenya achieved near gender parity in primary education enrolment, reflecting government efforts to enhance educational access and quality.

In the political space, the 2022 general elections saw a significant rise in female gubernatorial candidates, with seven women elected as County bosses, representing a 32 per cent success rate.

Despite these gains, women's representation in the National Assembly and the Cabinet still falls short of the constitutional two-thirds gender requirement.

Equally, the education sector in Kenya has achieved near gender parity in primary education enrolment, with 5.1 million girls and 5.2 million boys enrolled in 2023, thanks to government policies promoting equal access to education.

The gender diversity seeing women’s representation in leadership in Kenyan boardrooms has improved significantly, rising to 36 per cent in 2021 from 21 per cent in 2017, surpassing the global average of 23.3 per cent.

Legislation like the Breastfeeding Mothers Bill and the Employment Act (2007) has created a more supportive environment for working mothers, providing for lactation facilities at workplaces and paid maternity and paternity leave.

Despite this progress, challenges persist, particularly in addressing cultural norms, early marriages, and gender-based violence, which impede girls' access to education. Economic barriers and inadequate educational infrastructure, especially in rural areas, also affect the quality and accessibility of education for girls.

“To achieve full parity, we must tackle deep-rooted cultural practices and enhance economic opportunities for women,” Njino emphasises, outlining critical areas for future focus.

Kenya has implemented various programs to address health disparities, including gender-based violence prevention programs, reproductive health initiatives, and efforts to improve healthcare accessibility through mobile clinics and community health workers.

Njino expresses optimism about Kenya's future performance in the Global Gender Gap Index. “Continued commitment to gender equality policies and programs, along with increased private sector participation, is expected to sustain and potentially improve Kenya's ranking,” she says.

Key areas needing attention include economic empowerment, political representation, and cultural change. To achieve gender parity, the report recommends strengthening policies, promoting inclusive education, and encouraging businesses to adopt gender-responsive practices.