Summary
A July 2024 desktop assessment by the National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEC) found that 36 of the 69 universities and university colleges assessed (52.7%) comply with the constitutional principle that not more than two-thirds of members of a body should be of the same gender. Ten of these 36 have councils where women make up 50% or more of members.
Across the 69 institutions there are 630 council members, of whom 198 (31.4%) are female and 432 (68.6%) are male. Women chair 13 councils (18.84%) and 15 universities have a female Vice Chancellor (21.74%). Compliance is highest among public chartered universities (21 of 33) and lower among private chartered universities (9 of 25). The Islamic University of Kenya has no women on its council.
The assessment covered April to July 2024 and used only data published on university and Commission for University Education (CUE) websites. Ten institutions had no council data online. The report recommends aligning appointment processes with Article 27 of the Constitution and publishing disaggregated council data.
Key findings
- Of 69 universities and university colleges assessed in Kenya, 36 (52.7%) have met the not more than two-thirds gender threshold in their councils.
- The 69 university councils have 630 members in total: 198 (31.4%) are female and 432 (68.6%) are male.
- Ten of the 36 compliant universities have councils where female members make up 50% or more of the membership.
- By category, the threshold was met by 21 of 33 Public Chartered Universities, 9 of 25 Private Chartered Universities, 3 of 5 Public University Constituent Colleges, 2 of 5 Institutions with Letters of Interim Authority, and 1 of 1 Specialized Degree Awarding University (Public).
- Female representation was lowest at Tangaza University (10%), Kabarak University (11.1%), the Technical University of Kenya (11.1%), Pwani University (12.5%) and Catholic University of Eastern Africa (13.3%); the Islamic University of Kenya had no women on its council.
- Among the 69 universities assessed, 13 council chairpersons (18.84%) and 15 Vice Chancellors (21.74%) are female.
- On average university councils have 6 male members (range 2 to 18) and 3 female members (range 0 to 7).
- Ten of the 79 authorized universities and university colleges had no council membership data on their websites and were not assessed.
Recommendations
- The Public Service Commission, working with the State Department for University Education and Research, should ensure the appointment process for University Council members aligns with the gender inclusivity requirements of Article 27 of the Constitution of Kenya.
- Private universities should be guided by their boards of trustees to adopt similar gender-inclusive measures when appointing Council members.
- The Commission for University Education (CUE) should continue commending universities that have met the not more than two-thirds gender rule during its institutional quality audits.
- CUE should ensure that public and private universities publish on their websites council data disaggregated by sex, age, disability and marginalized groups.
How the study was done
Desktop study conducted by NGEC between April and July 2024. It used secondary data from each university's website and the Commission for University Education website on council membership by sex. 69 of 79 authorized universities and university colleges were assessed; 10 had no council data online. Other special interest groups were not analysed because the data is not published.
Questions & answers
How many Kenyan university councils meet the two-thirds gender rule?
According to NGEC's July 2024 assessment, 36 of the 69 universities and university colleges assessed (52.7%) have met the threshold that not more than two-thirds of council members be of the same gender. Ten of these have councils that are at least 50% female.
What is the not more than two-thirds gender principle?
Article 27 (6 and 8) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 requires the State to take legislative and other measures, including affirmative action, to implement the principle that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective or appointive bodies shall be of the same gender.
What percentage of university council members in Kenya are women?
In the 69 universities assessed, there are 630 council members. Of these, 198 (31.4%) are female and 432 (68.6%) are male. On average, councils have 3 female members and 6 male members.
Which types of universities perform best on council gender balance?
The Specialized Degree Awarding University (Public) met the threshold (1 of 1). Public Chartered Universities met it in 21 of 33 cases, while Private Chartered Universities met it in only 9 of 25. Public University Constituent Colleges met it in 3 of 5, and Institutions with Letters of Interim Authority in 2 of 5.
How many university council chairpersons and Vice Chancellors are women?
Among the 69 universities assessed, 13 council chairpersons (18.84%) are female and 56 (81.16%) are male. There are 15 female Vice Chancellors (21.74%) and 54 male Vice Chancellors (78.26%).
Which universities had the lowest female representation on their councils?
The report notes low female representation at Tangaza University (10%), Kabarak University (11.1%), the Technical University of Kenya (11.1%), Pwani University (12.5%) and Catholic University of Eastern Africa (13.3%). The Islamic University of Kenya had no women on its council.
How did NGEC carry out the assessment?
NGEC conducted a desktop study between April and July 2024 using only secondary data from university websites and the Commission for University Education website. Ten of 79 institutions had no council data online, so 69 were assessed.
What does NGEC recommend to improve gender balance in university councils?
NGEC recommends that the Public Service Commission and the State Department for University Education and Research align council appointments with Article 27, that private university boards of trustees adopt similar measures, that CUE commend compliant universities, and that CUE require disaggregated council data on university websites.
