Commissioner Mbithuka: Time for Gender Parity in County Governance

Nairobi — Commissioner Nzomo Mbithuka of the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) delivered a compelling address at the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) Women PreSummit on Gender Equity in County Governance, held in Nairobi. His remarks set the foundation for critical discussions that shaped the core of the summit’s final communique.

The pre-summit, convened ahead of the main CAF conference, brought together female county assembly members, policymakers, gender advocates, and development partners to deliberate on strategies to enhance women’s participation in devolved governance structures.

With gender representation remaining a contentious issue in Kenya’s political landscape, the forum aimed to craft actionable recommendations that promote gender-inclusive governance.

According to the Commission on Revenue Allocation (CRA), women constitute only 34% of members across the 47 county assemblies, despite constitutional provisions mandating gender balance in elective and appointive positions. The NGEC has persistently advocated for greater inclusivity, highlighting the systemic barriers that hinder women’s leadership in county governance, including cultural biases, financial constraints, and political marginalisation.

Commissioner Mbithuka underscored these challenges, emphasising the urgent need for legislative reforms and institutional support mechanisms to bridge the gender gap.

“The journey towards gender-equitable county governance requires deliberate action, including sustained advocacy, policy interventions, and capacitybuilding initiatives for women leaders,” he stated.

Discussions at the pre-summit centred on legal and policy frameworks, leadership capacity-building, and strategies to dismantle socio-cultural barriers impeding women’s political participation. Among the key recommendations was the urgent need to implement the two-thirds gender rule at the county level, a constitutional requirement that remains unfulfilled more than a decade after the adoption of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution.

Additionally, the forum advocated for the establishment of gender-responsive budgeting in county governments to ensure adequate allocation of resources towards women’s economic empowerment and leadership training programmes.

As the CAF summit progresses, the NGEC remains steadfast in its mandate to advocate for gender equity at all levels of governance. The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to working with county assemblies, civil society organisations, and development partners to translate policy discussions into concrete actions that ensure equal opportunities for women in leadership.

“The momentum generated at this pre-summit must not be lost,” Commissioner Mbithuka urged. “We must continue pushing for institutional reforms that guarantee gender parity in county governance.”

With Kenya’s next general elections on the horizon, gender advocates are intensifying efforts to ensure that legislative and policy commitments to women’s leadership are upheld, reinforcing the country’s commitment to inclusive governance.

Commissioner Nzomo Mbithuka at the County Assemblies Forum (CAF) Women Pre-Summit