Generally, women have been disproportionately affected in their access, control and distribution over specifically political resources, namely the participation in decision-making structures and processes on the national and county level. Despite constitutional mandates, for instance the 2010 Constitution Article 27 (8), and Article 81 (b), women remain significantly underrepresented at a county governance level.
To date, women’s participation in leadership roles within governance processes in Kenya has seen sig-nificant growth over the past two decades. In 2024, the number of female Members of Parliament increased by 30% – yet women remain markedly underrepresented at all political and administrative levels. The 2010 Kenyan Constitution marked a legal milestone through the introduction of the so-called Two-Thirds Gender Rule, stipulating that no gender should constitute more than two-thirds of the members of any public body. However, despite this constitutional mandate, the representation of women in leadership remains alarmingly low. As of 2023, women held only 22.5% of the seats in the National Assembly, even though they represent over half of Kenya’s population.
Yet the issue goes beyond mere numbers: the pathways to leadership are hindered by numerous bar-riers, including gender-based violence, limited access to educational, financial, and political resources, patriarchal party systems, and cultural norms that restrict women’s public engagement. Additionally, women are often steered into symbolic or “soft” leadership roles that lack substantive power. The underrepresentation of women carries profound social, political, and economic consequences. Greater diversity in leadership contributes to innovation, resilience in times of crisis, and social cohesion. In contexts like Kenya – marked by socio-economic disparities, ecological vulnerability, and weak state institutions – female leadership becomes strategically important, as women often lead in a more inclu-sive, dialogue-driven, and sustainable manner.
This policy paper will analyse and evaluate existing measures and programs, ultimately providing policy recommendations for complementary or alternative approaches.
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