STATEMENT ON THE COMMEMORATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

The National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) joins Kenya and the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day 2025 on March 8. The day celebrates women's achievements in socio-economic, cultural, and political spheres while recognizing progress and challenges in gender equality.

This year’s celebration is especially significant as it marks the 30th Anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPfA)—a key global commitment to advancing women's rights. The 2025 theme is "For ALL women and girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment."

Kenya has made commendable progress towards the advancement of gender equality and women empowerment. The Constitution of Kenya, 2010, enshrines the principles of equality, inclusion, and non-discrimination, forming the foundation for gender equality efforts. Progress has been recorded across key gender indicators, particularly in education, health, economic empowerment, and legal protection for women and girls.  

In education, there is near parity in enrollment in primary education and secondary school transition rates have increased to 83%[1]. Women’s financial inclusion has expanded, with 82% of women now accessing financial services, a notable increase largely due to mobile banking and digital finance[2]. Economic empowerment programs such as the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities (AGPO), Women Enterprise Fund (WEF), Uwezo Fund, and the National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF), the Hustler Fund have expanded financial inclusion for women. The maternal mortality rate has declined from 342 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015 to 297 per 100,000 in 2023[3], reflecting improvements in maternal healthcare.

 

Kenya has also seen an increase in the number of women holding key leadership positions, from corporate boardrooms to political offices. For instance, the number of female governors increased from 6.3% (3 out of 47) in 2017 to 14.9% (7 out of 47) in 2022. Further, in the corporate sector, women now hold 36% of senior leadership positions, a rise from 24% in 2017[4]. In prevention and response to Gender-Based Violence (GBV), Kenya has made measurable progress, especially in the fight against Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), whose prevalence has reduced from 21.0% in 2014 to 14.8% in 2022. Technological advancements have also provided new opportunities for women and girls, particularly in access to digital financial services and e-commerce.

Despite these achievements, significant challenges remain. Women and girls continue to face systemic barriers, including entrenched patriarchal structures, harmful cultural practices, and weak enforcement of gender equality laws. The Legislation of the not-more than two-thirds gender principle remains unlegislated 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 persist with 2024 reported as the worst year for femicide in Kenya, as reported cases rose to 168. Online abuse targeting women has also surged, affecting mostly female leaders and professionals. In addition, the disproportionate burden of unpaid care work on women, estimated at 4.7 hours per day compared to 1.7 hours for men[5], limits their opportunities for economic advancement and leadership participation.

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.

 NGEC urges the following priority interventions:

1. Enforce the Two-Thirds Gender Principle by implementing legislative and policy reforms to guarantee women’s equitable representation in leadership and governance.
2. Invest in the Care Economy by recognizing and reducing unpaid care work, finalizing the National Care Policy, and establishing State-funded childcare facilities, among other interventions.
3. Strengthen Legal and Institutional Frameworks by mandating gender-responsive budgeting, holding institutions accountable, and integrating gender equality into public finance management.
4. Eliminate Gender-Based Violence, including Technology-Facilitated GBV, by enforcing stricter laws, enhancing digital safety measures, and ensuring survivor-centred response mechanisms.
5. Promote Women’s Economic Empowerment by increasing access to financial resources, supporting women-led enterprises, and institutionalizing workplace policies for equal pay and career growth.
6. Challenge Patriarchal Norms and Social Barriers through behavioural change initiatives, media, and digital campaigns, and engaging men and boys as active allies in gender equality.
7. Addressing emerging issues and global threats like climate, pandemics, digital exclusion, and economic downturns.

We call upon all stakeholders to commit to tangible action beyond rhetoric by ensuring policies, programs, and investments translate into real progress for women and girls across all spheres of life.

The National Gender and Equality Commission reaffirms its commitment to working with all stakeholders to promote gender equality and freedom from discrimination in Kenya.

The time to act is now!  #AccelerateAction, #IWD2025, and #ForAllWomenAndGirls

Happy International Women’s Day 2025.

Hon. Rehema Jaldesa

Chairperson
National Gender and Equality Commission

 

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[1] KNBS 2024  Economic Survey

[2]  FSD Kenya. (2024). Kenya Financial Inclusion Report 2024.

[3]  World Health Organization,2024

 

[4] NGEC 2024, Kenya Institute of Management, 2024.

[5] KNBS, Time Use Survey , 2024