Photo: © Billy Kipyegon Mutai
As women, we have witnessed firsthand that women in Kenya are engines of economic growth. We build businesses, nurture families, and strengthen communities. Yet, despite our contribution, the economic playing field remains uneven.
Kenya has made strides in advancing gender equality, with a constitution that enshrines it and progressive policies in Vision 2030. But the reality tells a different story: Women still face barriers to equal economic participation. The latest World Bank’s Kenya Economic Update (KEU) underscores this: unless we prioritize women’s empowerment, inclusive and sustainable growth will remain out of reach.
Gender gaps are holding Kenya back
Gender disparities do not just hurt women—they hold Kenya back. Research shows that closing gaps in education and labor force participation could boost Kenya’s GDP by 10%. When women thrive, economies grow, poverty declines, and social outcomes in education and health improve for everyone. However, we know that economic empowerment is not just about jobs. It’s about financial independence, leadership, and breaking generations of societal expectations. It’s about ensuring that our daughters (and sons) don’t just dream big, they achieve bigger.
Yet, our research findings show that:
- Women in Kenya are less likely to be employed than men, regardless of location, age, or education.
- Young women are disproportionately unemployed or out of school (NEET).
- Women take on more unpaid labor, earn less than men, and own fewer assets.
- These inequalities are even worse among poor households and in rural and arid regions, deepening national economic divides.
What holds women back?
Education is a proven pathway to prosperity; each additional year of schooling increases a woman’s earnings by 17.1% (compared to 13.3% for men). Still, too many women are left behind, particularly in economically disadvantaged, arid, rural areas. Girls outperform boys in primary school but fall behind in secondary, especially in STEM, shutting them out of higher-paying careers.
Women in Kenya’s arid counties face the greatest disadvantages: In Turkana, Marsabit, Tana River, Wajir, and Mandera, over two-thirds of women aged 19–34 have never been to school. Among Kenya’s poorest, 51.3% of women have no education, compared to a national average of 17%. But education alone isn’t enough; it must translate into real economic opportunities. There, too, Kenya falls short.
Marriage and motherhood come earlier—and at a greater economic cost—for women than for men. About 31% of 19-year-old girls are already married or have children. This jumps to 49% among the poorest. Women marry younger, especially those with less education and fewer economic opportunities. Teenage pregnancy remains a challenge: Nearly one in three women (aged 15–49) in Kenya has experienced early pregnancy, with rates as high as 50% in some arid counties like Samburu.
Unlike men, women’s economic trajectories take a sharp hit after marriage and childbirth. For many, the door to a career closes after an early marriage or pregnancy. Others face limited access to paid work and leadership roles over their working lives. A lack of affordable, quality childcare worsens this cycle, with the issue more pronounced for women with children with disabilities.
Societal expectations limit women’s autonomy at home, in workplaces, and in society. One in three women lacks decision-making power over her healthcare, major purchases, or family visits. About 34% have experienced physical violence after the age of 15. Even more concerning; young people (15–19) are more likely to justify domestic violence, showing these toxic norms are being passed down, not erased. Our findings also show that help-seeking behavior is notably low, intensifying the challenges faced by women in abusive situations.
The way forward is multi-sectoral
Achieving lasting progress in women’s economic empowerment requires a comprehensive, multisectoral approach, one that addresses the interconnected challenges women face. Here are some of the priority actions we believe can enhance economic empowerment for women in Kenya:
1. Invest in women’s human capital: Keep girls in school, especially in underserved areas, through scholarships, cash transfers, and targeted programs.
2. Challenge harmful social norms: Reduce teenage pregnancy and early marriage through nationwide awareness campaigns and comprehensive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) education.
3. Expand access to economic opportunities by improving school-to-work transitions and ensuring women enter better-paying fields; investing in entrepreneurship programs with financial support and mentorship; and strengthening social protection, health services, and childcare to support working mothers.
4. End Gender-Based Violence (GBV) through early interventions in schools and communities, coupled with strong legal and social protection.
A successful strategy relies on the timely collection of high-quality, gender-disaggregated data to inform policy and measure progress—and its use, especially for marginalized groups, such as the women in arid areas and in refugee communities.
We know women’s economic empowerment isn’t just about women—it’s about Kenya’s future. Closing gender gaps is not about leaving men behind; it’s about lifting the entire nation forward. When women thrive, families thrive, communities thrive, and Kenya thrives. Every woman, regardless of where she is born or the circumstance she inherits, deserves a shot. Kenya’s future depends on it.
Join the Conversation