At the Young Female Leaders Conference hosted by the AFRI Youth Care Group (AYCG) in Nairobi, the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) made a powerful call to Kenya’s universities to become active leaders in advancing gender equality.
Addressing the forum, NGEC CEO Dr. Purity Ngina underscored the importance of higher education in shaping a fair and inclusive society. She noted that while progress has been made, many institutions still treat gender equality as a formality, rather than a lived commitment.
“Universities should not only include women in their brochures or events,” said Dr. Ngina. “They must embed gender equality in their leadership, research, and day-to-day life on campus.”
She highlighted NGEC’s key contributions in promoting equality in the education sector, including the Education Sector Gender Policy and the TVET Gender Mainstreaming Model.
These initiatives are aimed at making learning institutions more responsive to the needs of women, youth, persons with disabilities, and other marginalized groups.
Dr. Ngina also emphasized the need for safe and inclusive campuses where young women can freely express themselves, participate in decision-making, and thrive academically.
“Creating gender-responsive universities means having strong policies on issues like sexual harassment, ensuring female representation in leadership, and providing support for marginalized students,” she said.
