Latest
Usawa kwa Wote — Equality for All
0800 720 187 info@ngeckenya.org
NGEC
NGEC Kenya
Usawa kwa Wote
Home
Who We Are
Vision & Mission Strategic Direction History Mandate NGEC Pension Scheme Frequently Asked Questions
Governance
The Commision The Secretariat
Directorates
Corporate Services Programmes & Research
Regional Offices
Nakuru Kisumu Isiolo Garissa Kitui Kilifi Turkana
Legal
The Complaint Process Lodge a Complaint Two Thirds Gender Rule Election 2027 Gender Parity in Kenya
Work Areas
Compliance, Monitoring & Reporting Investigations & Redress Public Education & Mainstreaming Research & Knowledge Management Special Interest Groups
Partnerships
Partner With Us Echidna Giving Project JICA Project Gender Research Agenda USAWA Awards
NGEC ACT Strategic Plan Annual Reports Reports & Publications Gender Mainstreaming Tool
Equality Bulletin Latest News Videos Upcoming Events
Tenders Jobs / Careers Staff Mail
Contact Us
Lodge a Complaint
0800 720 187 info@ngeckenya.org

Gender Parity in Kenya: Political & Public Representation

A breakdown of women's representation in Kenya's Cabinet, Governorships, Parliament and County Assemblies, measured against the constitutional two-thirds gender rule.

Political & Public Representation

Gender Parity in Kenya

Kenya's Constitution says no more than two-thirds of any elective or appointive body may be of the same gender. County Assemblies meet that bar because the Constitution tops them up automatically. The Cabinet, the Governors and Parliament, which have no such mechanism, do not.

Articles 27(8), 81(b) & 177 5 bodies assessed
1 of 5 bodies fully meet the two-thirds rule
35 more women needed in the National Assembly
12.8% of County Governors are women (6 of 47)
~10% of open constituency seats were won by women in 2022
The Two-Thirds Gender Rule

Out of every 3 seats, at least 1 must go to the less-represented gender.

To work out the number of women a body needs, divide its seats by 3 and round up. A 25-member Cabinet needs at least 9 women, and a 349-seat National Assembly needs at least 117.

Where it comes from
27(8)
Equality and freedom from discrimination. The State must take measures so that no more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies are of the same gender.
81(b)
The electoral system. It must ensure that no more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies are of the same gender.
177
County Assemblies. If too few women are elected to the wards, special seats are filled from party lists until the rule is met. This top-up is automatic.
Scorecard

How Each Body Measures Up

Each ring shows the share of seats held by women. The gold tick marks the one-third line. If the purple arc stops before the tick, the body is not compliant.

Cabinet
7 of 25 seats Needs 9
Non-compliant
2 women short
County Governors
6 of 47 seats Needs 16
Non-compliant
10 women short
National Assembly
82 of 349 seats Needs 117
Non-compliant
35 women short
Senate
21 of 67 seats Needs 23
Near-compliant
2 women short
County Assemblies
Guaranteed by top-up seats
Fully compliant

Distance to the one-third line

Women's share 33.3% threshold

Women's share of seats in each body. The scale runs from 0 to 50%, which would be equal representation.

County Assemblies
~33.3%
At the line
Senate
31.3%
−2.0 pts
Cabinet
28.0%
−5.3 pts
National Assembly
23.5%
−9.8 pts
County Governors
12.8%
−20.6 pts
0%10%20% 33.3%50%
Seat by Seat

Every Seat, Pictured

Each figure is one seat (the 349-seat National Assembly uses dots). Gold-outlined seats are now held by men and would need to go to women for the body to meet the two-thirds rule.

Cabinet

25 seats · needs 9 women
  • Women7
  • Shortfall to the minimum2
  • Men16

Includes the President, Deputy President, Attorney General and Cabinet Secretaries.

County Governors

47 seats · needs 16 women
  • Women6
  • Shortfall to the minimum10
  • Men31

Women Governors: Kirinyaga, Nakuru, Machakos, Kwale, Homa Bay and Embu.

Senate

67 seats · needs 23 women
  • Women, directly elected3
  • Women, nominated18
  • Shortfall to the minimum2
  • Men44

The Senate is close to the line because of party nominations, not elections.

National Assembly

349 seats · needs 117 women
  • Women, elected in constituencies29
  • County Woman Representatives47
  • Women, nominated6
  • Shortfall to the minimum35
  • Men232

The largest gap of any body. Parliament has never passed a law to top up its seats the way County Assemblies are topped up.

How women got into Parliament

Most women in Parliament hold seats reserved or nominated for women, not seats won in open contests.

National Assembly82 women
65% of women MPs entered through affirmative action seats: 47 County Woman Representatives and 6 nominated MPs.
Senate21 women
86% of women Senators were nominated. Only 3 were directly elected: Nakuru, Machakos and Isiolo.
Won an open seat Woman Rep / party nominee Nominated / special interest

When there is no quota

Women's success rate in open, single-member contests (2022):

National Assembly constituencies ~10%
29 of 290 seats
Members of County Assembly (wards) ~7%
Nationwide, before top-up seats
Senate (county seats) 6.4%
3 of 47 seats

Each bar is measured against the 33.3% line, so a full bar would mean the rule was met through elections alone.

Women Governors over time

Seven women were elected in 2022, a record high, but still less than half of the 16 the rule calls for.

The drop from 7 to 6 followed the impeachment of Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, which the High Court upheld in March 2025.

The Cabinet in court

With 7 women out of 25 members, the Cabinet is 2 women short of the minimum of 9.

  1. 30 Jun 2026 High Court rules the Cabinet unconstitutional The Court found the Cabinet's composition violates Article 27(8) and gave the President 120 days to comply.
  2. 28 Oct 2026 Compliance deadline passes The 120-day window closed without the Cabinet being reconstituted.
  3. 29 Oct 2026 Court of Appeal declines to suspend the ruling The judgment stands while the State's appeal is pending.
Why the Gap Persists

Key Drivers & Structural Challenges

~10%
Low direct electability

In open, single-member contests without a quota, women won only 29 of 290 National Assembly seats and 3 of 47 Senate seats.

65%
Heavy reliance on affirmative action

Nearly two-thirds of women MPs sit through affirmative action: 47 County Woman Representatives and 6 nominated MPs, not open constituency contests.

0
No top-up law for Parliament

County Assemblies are topped up automatically under Article 177. Parliament has never passed the enabling law for a similar formula for the National Assembly.

Overview of political representation & compliance

Level of governmentWomenMenConstitutional statusMain mechanism / driver
Cabinet 28.0% (7/25) 72.0% (18/25) Non-compliant High Court ruling (June 2026); compliance deadline missed
County Governors 12.8% (6/47) 87.2% (41/47) Non-compliant Open executive election (no quota)
National Assembly 23.5% (82/349) 76.5% (267/349) Non-compliant Relies on 47 County Woman Representative seats
Senate 31.3% (21/67) 68.7% (46/67) Near-compliant Relies on 16 party-nominated female seats; 2 women short
County Assemblies ~33.3% ~66.7% Fully compliant Mandatory top-up seats under Article 177

National Assembly figures are as at the 2022 election. Women elected in constituencies have since fallen from 29 to 28: a man won the Kandara by-election held after Alice Wahome was appointed to the Cabinet.

Help close the gap

NGEC monitors compliance with the two-thirds gender rule and investigates discrimination, including in party nominations, appointments and campaigns.

Lodge a Complaint Two Thirds Gender Rule Election 2027