Breaking Barriers: Kenyan Gender Representation in Leadership Roles (2023)

Gender inclusion in leadership remains a cornerstone of equitable governance, yet data from 2024 Economic Survey by Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) reveals persistent gaps in representation. Across the national and county levels, women continue to face significant barriers to accessing decision-making positions. However, overall in 2023, women account for 34% of key decision-making positions across all arms of government, underscoring the progress made and the challenges that remain. Here’s a snapshot of the current state of gender representation in various sectors of governance:

Executive Leadership: Gender Gaps Persist

Women occupy only 24% of key decision-making positions in the executive arm of government, highlighting significant disparities at both national and county levels.

• At the national level, men dominate in roles such as Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and the Diplomatic Corps, with women consistently underrepresented. For example, only 7 out of 40 Cabinet Secretaries and 18 out of 58 Principal Secretaries are women.

• At the county level, the gap remains stark. Women hold 7 Governor positions compared to 40 for men, and just 5 County Secretary roles compared to 41 for men. The County Executive Committee shows better representation, with women occupying 130 seats, though still behind men with 277.

These figures emphasize the need for targeted efforts to elevate women into leadership roles.

Legislature: Gender Representation Challenges

Women hold 32% of key legislative positions in Kenya, reflecting progress yet exposing significant gaps. Nationally, women occupy 21 of 67 Senate seats and 82 compared to 267 Parliamentary positions by men, with no Speaker roles. At the county level, women fill 723 of 2156 MCA positions, but only one of 47county speaker roles.

Despite Article 27(8) of the Kenyan Constitution mandating gender balance even in parliament this still seems not to be effected

Judiciary: Strides Toward Equality

Women hold 54% of key decision-making positions in the Judiciary, showcasing progress but with ongoing disparities:

• Women are well-represented among Supreme Court judges, holding 3 out of 7 seats, and a similar trend is observed among High Court judges, where women occupy 69 seats compared to 85 held by men.

• Gaps persist in other roles, such as Magistrates (251 women to 339 men) and Court of Appeal Judges (11 women to 19 men).

While advancements are evident, achieving gender parity in the Judiciary remains a work in progress.