Kenya

Kenya has made important strides in advancing gender equality, with enactment of laws on domestic violence, sexual offences, establishment of affirmative funds for women-led businesses, and increasing representation of women in public and elective office. Despite such developments, only 29% of women are considered empowered, according to UN Women and Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) data published in 2020. Progress is still slow, hampered by inadequate implementation of laws, inadequate funding, weak accountability mechanisms and slow transformation of discriminatory and patriarchal gender norms, attitudes and practices.

To support the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals, and full realisation of rights for women and girls, UN Women Kenya prioritises the following:

• Women’s political leadership and participation
• Women’s economic empowerment
• Ending violence against women and girls
• Women, peace and security (WPS) agenda and humanitarian action