Experts of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women Commend Kenya on Positive Developments Concerning Women’s Leadership, Raise Questions on High Rates of Femicide and Teenage Pregnancy
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women today concluded its consideration of the ninth periodic report of Kenya on its efforts to comply with the Convention on the Elimination on All Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Committee Experts commended the State party on positive developments and targeted measures taken to advance women’s leadership, while raising questions on how the country was tackling high rates of femicide and teenage pregnancy.
One Committee Expert highlighted some of the State’s positive developments concerning women in decision making, including the targeted measures to advance women's leadership through the national strategy for women's political participation, the launch of the women in diplomacy leadership programme in 2026, and the meaningful inclusion of women in the judiciary, with women comprising 44 per cent of judicial officers and holding key offices such as Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, and Attorney General. However, it was noted that women remained underrepresented in national politics and security institutions.
A Committee Expert said over 1,600 femicides had occurred in the last three years in Kenya, including 220 between January and December 2025. Given the very high incidence of femicides, what was the timeline for creating a legal definition of femicide? What was the State doing to prevent and investigate the systematic killing of women? What comprehensive measures existed to combat harmful gender stereotypes in traditional media and cyberspace? Did these strategies include training, engaging with men, traditional and community leaders and faith healers, as well as undertaking capacity building for service providers to alter gender stereotypes and prevent harmful behaviours?
Another Expert said teenage pregnancy remained a serious concern. What concrete measures were being taken to address the underlying causes of teenage pregnancy and to improve access to comprehensive sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health information and services? How would it be ensured that adolescents, including out-of-school girls, had confidential access to contraception and adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services? Brenda Akia, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, noted that there had been a case where one school had 36 cases of teenage pregnancy, which showed that this was a prevalent issue within the State party.
Introducing the report, Anne Njoki Wang’ombe, Principal Secretary, Kenya’s State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, Head of Ministry Team and head of the delegation, said that since the submission of the last report, Kenya had continued to advance legislative, policy and institutional reforms to strengthen women's rights and promote their full participation in national development. Key legislative reforms included the 2021 amendment to the law of succession, which redefined the term “spouse” for inheritance purposes; the 2022 children act, which prohibited harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, child and forced marriage, virginity testing and girl beading; and the 2021 refugees act, which strengthened protections for refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls.
Responding to questions, the delegation said Kenya recognised that femicide was a grave manifestation of gender-based violence and required a whole of Government response. The taskforce established in 2025 by the President had, through its recommendations, informed consultations on an implementation plan in terms of protection of women and girls, and the enforcement of penal provisions to protect girls from killings. The national service amendment bill aimed to strengthen investigations into suspicious and violent attacks. Kenya had also been engaging faith leaders, who had a better platform to reach people, as well as cultural leaders.
Answering questions on teenage pregnancy, the delegation said the Government of Kenya provided age-appropriate education on health, reproductive health and development. This had been integrated within the school curriculum. Adolescents were provided with the correct information and life skills as they grew up to enable them to make informed choices. Life skills were deliberately woven through guidance and counselling programmes and other learner support interventions. When teenage pregnancy occurred, it was handled within the Kenyan provisions.
In closing remarks, Ms. Njoki Wang’ombe extended sincere appreciation for the constructive and frank dialogue. Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every woman and girl could live free from discrimination and violence, participate fully in public life and exercise her rights with dignity, both online and offline.
Marianne Mikko, Committee Vice-Chair, thanked the delegation of Kenya for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women in the State party.
The delegation of Kenya was comprised of representatives of the Office of the Attorney General; the Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action; the Department for Justice, Human Rights and Constitutional Affairs; the Department for Basic Education; the Department for Labour; the Department for Social Protection; the Department for Public Health; the Law Office; the Judiciary; the Women Enterprise Fund; and the Permanent Mission of Kenya to the United Nations Office at Geneva.
The Committee’s ninety-third session is being held from 5 to 30 October. All documents relating to the Committee’s work can be found on the session’s webpage. Meeting summary releases can be found here. The webcast of the Committee’s public meetings can be accessed via the UN Web TV webpage.
The Committee will next meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, 9 October, to begin its consideration of the seventh periodic report of the Republic of Moldova (CEDAW/C/MDA/7).
Report
The Committee has before it the ninth periodic report of Kenya (CEDAW/C/KEN/9).
Presentation of Report
ANNE NJOKI WANG’OMBE, Principal Secretary, Kenya’s State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, Head of Ministry Team and head of the delegation, said since the submission of the last report, Kenya had continued to advance legislative, policy and institutional reforms to strengthen women's rights and promote their full participation in national development. These efforts were grounded in the Constitution, which guaranteed equality, human dignity, non-discrimination and equal protection under the law.
Key legislative reforms included the 2021 amendment to the law of succession, which redefined the term “spouse” for inheritance purposes; the 2022 children act, which prohibited harmful practices such as female genital mutilation, child and forced marriage, virginity testing and girl beading; and the 2021 refugees act, which strengthened protections for refugee and asylum-seeking women and girls. The 2025 persons with disabilities act enhanced protections for women and girls with disabilities and reinforced employment quotas. In 2026, the Cabinet approved amendments to the protection against domestic violence act to strengthen prevention and response measures.
Women's political participation had improved, with women winning 718 County Assembly seats and seven Governorships in the 2022 elections. Parliament was also considering constitutional amendments to advance the two-thirds gender principle. These gains were supported by major policy initiatives, including the national policy on women's economic empowerment, the national care policy, and the national reproductive health policy, and also commenced the implementation of the third national action plan on women, peace and security 2025–2029.
Preventing and responding to gender-based violence and femicide remained a national priority. Female genital mutilation prevalence had declined from 21 per cent in 2014 to 15 per cent in 2022, supported by community engagement programmes reaching over 31,000 girls. Access to justice was expanded through specialised gender justice courts, virtual and mobile courts, helplines and survivor support centres.
In response to concern about gender-based violence and femicide, the President had established a technical working group whose recommendations included recognising femicide as a distinct offence. Kenya continued to combat trafficking in women and girls through a comprehensive framework focused on prevention, protection, prosecution and victim support. The Government also remained committed to addressing the root causes of violence through education, community engagement and the active involvement of men and boys.
More than 2.3 million women had benefited from affirmative action programmes, including the Women Enterprise Fund, the Uwezo Fund and the NYOTA Project. In education, Kenya had achieved near gender parity in access, with girls accounting for roughly half of enrolment at pre-primary and secondary levels. Retention and completion rates had improved through measures that supported girls' continued participation in education, while reforms promoted inclusive learning and greater participation in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Additionally, The third national action plan on women, peace and security recognised women as leaders and agents of change. Women now occupied key leadership positions, including Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, Chief Registrar and Attorney General, while constituting 44 per cent of judicial officers.
Kenya had increased investment in reproductive, maternal, newborn, child and adolescent health, allocating approximately USD 47 million in 2025/26 and deploying over 100,000 community health promoters nationwide. Maternal mortality had declined from 488 deaths per 100,000 live births in 2014 to an estimated 355 in 2022, reflecting continued investment in quality healthcare services. To support evidence-based policymaking, Kenya had developed the second gender sector statistics plan, strengthening the collection and use of sex-disaggregated data.
These developments demonstrated Kenya's progress and the work that remained. While challenges persisted, including in realising women's land, property and inheritance rights, particularly in rural and marginalised areas, significant gains in legislative reform, policy development, access to justice, education, health, economic empowerment and political participation provided a strong foundation for further advancement. Kenya remained committed to working with all stakeholders to advance gender equality and welcomed the Committee's recommendations and guidance.
Questions by Committee Experts
BRENDA AKIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, welcomed the Kenyan delegation. The Constitution was the supreme law of Kenya. However, the Constitution had claw back clauses which undermined women and girls’ rights. What steps was the State party taking to repeal or amend the legal framework that contravened articles 2 and 24 of the Constitution, including repealing legal provisions that excluded Muslim women from the equality and non-discrimination principles provided for in the Constitution?
The Committee commended the Kenyan courts for their application of the Convention to adjudicate cases and referencing of the Convention in their judgments. This resulted in progressive judgements that found several laws and legal provisions discriminatory and in contravention of the Constitution on equality and non-discrimination. However, despite the court rulings, the discriminatory laws and legal provisions remained in the statutes. What urgent actions was the State party taking to implement the court decisions to nullify the discriminatory legal framework and provisions?
What actions was the State party taking to ensure that the formal law effectively translated into transforming the day to day lives of women and girls and achieving substantive equality?
What measures was the State party taking to develop gender responsive artificial intelligence and technology governance, including the legal and policy framework and financing to curb artificial intelligence and technology gender bias, stereotyping and discrimination against women and girls? What steps was the State taking to ensure traditional and customary law was able to be implemented in line with rights and standards? What urgent steps was the State party taking to align the criminal penalties for similar criminal offences found in different legislation to make them consistent? What steps was the State taking to ensure protection for female human rights defenders, lawyers and activists who faced harassment and intimidation, including online? What concrete steps was the State party taking to repeal the death penalty, in line with the court decision?
Another Expert congratulated Kenya on the appointment of a female Chief of Justice. Kenyan courts had frequently declared colonial laws as unconstitutional which should be commended. However, same-sex acts remained criminalised. How would Kenya deal with these provisions which continued to be retained in the Penal Code? The two-third requirement in leadership was very important to the Committee. While it was commendable how the judicial system had prioritised women in leadership, would this be carried out across all branches of authority?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said any decision rendered by the Court which was determined to be inconsistent with the Constitution would find its way to the Supreme and High Courts. The multi-sectoral committee on legal reform had been established to review decisions of the courts and outdated provisions of law. Its mandate also included addressing outdated provisions, including those made under colonial law. Eventually, the entire law book of Kenya would be reviewed and amended.
The recommendations of the Committee would inform possible amendments to any law, including those considered to be discriminatory against women and girls. From 2025 to 2026, the legal aid service budget had been doubled, which would serve indigenous peoples, women and girls. This would also extend awareness of legal rights and access to redress and remedies, offering mobile legal aid clinics alterative justice systems initiatives and partnerships with civil society and universal legal aid clinics, accessible to women in rural and marginalised communities.
While Islamic law was applied, it was not applied outside article 24.1 of the Constitution on what was considered reasonable, necessary and proportionate in any democratic society. This preserved Kenya’s commitment to religious duality while ensuring protections for all citizens.
The Victim Protection Fund had been reviewed to allow for compensation for victims of crimes. The legal aid centres in all 47 counties now contained a victim register, enabling any victim to record their claims with the national legal service.
The current national human rights plan did not cover human rights defenders, but this would be included in the future plan. The Committee on multi-sectoral reforms would provide guidance in terms of bringing the two third principles into play. Kenya had made explicit provisions regarding Kenya’s views on marriage, which carried into the marriage act. This made the law clear in regard to same sex relationships. In 2024, Kenya voted on the United Nations resolution on a moratorium of the death penalty, signalling a growing policy shift towards abolition.
Kenya’s response to gender-based violence rested on legislative measures, including the gender-based violence act, among others. The National Taskforce on Gender-based Violence had been established, with one of the recommendations being to amend the various laws pertaining to gender and gender-based violence. The Cabinet had approved a bill on domestic violence, which further extended protection to victims, and which extended to information and technology.
Questions by Committee Experts
The Committee acknowledged efforts taken by Kenya, including the strategy policy plan up to 2027. How did the State party ensure effective coordination and accountability among the national Government and 47 county Governments? Did the national machinery have adequate resources to effectively fulfil its mandate? How did the State party address any gaps in resources? How did the State party ensure these policies actually reached women at the community level? Kenya’s efforts to empower women and girls were appreciated, including the grassroots initiatives. What was the current level of budget allocated to these programmes? Were they adequate to enable them to effectively fulfil their mandate? What measures were taken to ensure the regular collection of disaggregated data to identify discrepancies among the 47 counties?
A Committee Expert highlighted some positive developments, including the G7 strategy to increase the number of female governors from seven to 16 by 2027, and gender mainstreaming across the public and private sectors. What measures would the State party take to enforce the two-thirds gender rule, requiring that women comprise at least 33 per cent of elective and appointive bodies, and when was parity expected to be achieved? How was the State party ensuring diverse representation of women in decision-making positions in companies and political bodies alike, including accountability measures for non-compliance? What steps had been taken to raise awareness among legislators, policymakers and other relevant actors, including the private sector, on the role of temporary special measures as a tool for achieving substantive equality? What specific sanctions applied when public institutions or companies failed to comply with gender requirements, and had any been applied to date?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Government had firm principles in equality and non-discrimination which underpinned the Constitution. Mainstreaming of gender was a key Government priority, as well as gender-based programme budgeting, which was included within the county plans. Gender priorities were required to be implemented every year, across all sectors. All efforts aimed to ensure that gender priorities were captured at all levels. The established gender focal offices had programming on gender. The national gender machinery coordinated all these ministries and departments across all sectors. Across the 47 counties, there were gender offices ensuring that gender mainstreaming was coordinated at the county levels. Work was done with the private sector to implement the 2022 gender mainstreaming policy.
Enterprise funds supported women’s empowerment and the allocation for these programmes had been increased during the past year. The Government was working on a standard accounting system which would be used to improve financial management processes. Kenya worked closely with civil society organizations. Annual reporting was undertaken every year on the impact of gender policies at all levels.
A multisectoral working group on the “not more than two thirds gender” principle had been established in 2023, and a framework had been submitted to Parliament for consideration. As a result, a bill had been developed which sought to enforce the two-thirds gender principle in electing positions. Beyond Parliament, the principle was applied through special seats and Country Assemblies and was fully compliant with the Constitution. Women now made up 44 per cent of judicial offices within the judiciary.
The two-thirds gender principle was simply a minimum. The Government’s immediate priority was to give effect to the existing requirement of the two-thirds principle. The private sector was bound by the Constitutional and other laws in terms of employment. Constitutional laws on non-discrimination existed for all persons. Harassment and discrimination of female employees was subject to the national laws of employment.
Being a fully democratic country, it took time to get things done, not due to a lack of willingness, but the way the system was established.
Questions by Committee Experts
An Expert said the Committee commended Kenya on the impressive and significant range of progressive legislation and policies to protect women and girls’ human rights. However, many concerns persisted; 41 per cent of women who had a husband or intimate partner had experienced physical or sexual violence. Over 1,600 femicides occurred in the last three years, including 220 between January and December 2025. Femicide in Kenya was linked to sexual violence and incest, and these incidents were rarely isolated or spontaneous. Given the very high incidence of femicides, what was the timeline for creating a legal definition of femicide? What was the State doing to prevent and investigate the systematic killing of women? What comprehensive measures existed to combat harmful gender stereotypes in traditional media and cyberspace? Did these strategies include training, engaging with men, traditional and community leaders and faith healers, as well as undertaking capacity building for service providers to alter gender stereotypes and prevent harmful behaviours?
What mechanisms existed to protect survivors who experienced stigma and retaliation after disclosure or reporting, given that many were later killed by close relatives or intimate partners, who framed retaliation as defence of family honour? What measures were undertaken to combat endemic gender stereotyping and harmful practices, affecting women and girls with disabilities? This group needed to have a special focus and be viewed as full Kenyan citizens, regardless of their disability.
What was the timeline for the adoption of the sexual offences’ amendment bill? When would the report of the technical working group be made public? The Committee was also concerned with an article in the Constitution which exempted marital rape, and inadequate investigative and prosecutorial procedures in the judicial system to protect women and girls from gender-based violence. What kind of outreach was done to prevent harmful stereotypes?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said support mechanisms for victims of gender-based violence included legislation, as well as services like police gender desks, the national gender-based violence helpline, one-stop centres, shelters and safe spaces, and legal aid. Accountability had been strengthened through an expanded justice system, through the mobile courts. Kenya had protection orders which had been provided for under the protection against domestic violence rules. Out of court settlements for sexual offences had been declared unconstitutional by the courts. The Government had piloted a sexual and gender-based violence information system and was improving data collection in this regard. The Constitution guaranteed every person equality, dignity and freedom from all forms of violence. Kenya was reviewing its sexual offences framework, and the sexual offences bill was now before Parliament. Legal reform needed to go together with effective investigation.
Kenya recognised that femicide was a grave manifestation of gender-based violence and required a whole of Government response. The taskforce established in 2025 by the President had, through its recommendations,
informed consultations on an implementation plan in terms of protection for women and girls, and the enforcement of penal provisions to protect girls from killings. The national service amendment bill aimed to strengthen investigations into suspicious and violent attacks. The report of the technical working group had already been published and made public.
Kenya had confidential and dignified health services and identity protection for gender-based violence survivors. There were 13 specialised courts in the country for dealing with gender-based violence, and the State aimed to establish these throughout the entire country. The Government was working to change the narrative around victims and ensure they were not blamed. Additionally, every office had a gender desk, enabling easier reporting for victims of gender-based violence.
Kenya had the National Council for Persons with Disability, which played a key role in promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, including women and girls. The Council had operational management systems which were able to track violent incidents, as well as report cases. Kenya had undertaken an assessment in 2022 regarding violence against children. One of the key response mechanisms had been the development of a national positive parenting programme, launched in 2024, as many instances of violence occurred within the family setting.
The State had been making use of the male engagement programme. Kenya had also been engaging faith leaders, who had a better platform to reach people, as well as cultural leaders. A recent declaration had been made with the Masai community, among others. Many practices were deeply rooted in Kenyan culture, which was why engagement with the cultural leaders was very important.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said human trafficking in Kenya remained a gendered phenomenon, overwhelmingly targeting women and girls for sexual exploitation. How was Kenya combatting trafficking and sexual exploitation? What had the State done to combat the smuggling of migrants? Were crimes of forced labour, trafficking and sexual exploitation referred to in the Penal Code? Was artificial intelligence also covered? Kenya had not ratified Optional Protocols on the Convention, which was important regarding the prevention of trafficking. What was the State’s position on this side?
One Committee Expert highlighted some of the State’s positive developments concerning women in decision making, including the targeted measures to advance women's leadership through the national strategy for women's political participation, the launch of the women in diplomacy leadership programme in 2026, and the meaningful inclusion of women in the judiciary, with women comprising 44 per cent of judicial officers and holding key offices such as Chief Justice, Deputy Chief Justice, and Attorney General. However, women remained underrepresented in national politics and security institutions, with positions often limited to symbolic leadership roles. Women currently held approximately 23 per cent of seats in the National Assembly, 31 per cent of seats in the Senate, and only 15 per cent as governors.
What concrete measures were being taken to remove practical barriers and structural challenges to women's political participation, including ensuring a safe environment? What was the expected timeline for implementing the bills aimed at increasing women's equal representation in decision-making? How was the meaningful participation of women in electoral processes ensured, and how were they protected from harassment, including political and sexual violence, as well as online harassment? What steps were being taken to equalise access to finances for male and female candidates? What was the current status of the third women, peace and security national action plan for 2025–2029? How many female Ambassadors were there in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
Another Committee Expert welcomed measures to ensure registration for identity cards for persons in rural areas and persons with disabilities. What steps were being taken to align the birth and death registration act with the Constitution? What concrete measures had been taken to ensure the effective implementation of the citizens and immigration act to enable women to transmit their nationality to children without administrative barriers? How was the application of nationality ensured, without discrimination on the basis of sex? What measures was Kenya taking to remove barriers and achieve universal registration of children, particularly those in rural areas? How was it ensured that everyone had access to digital registration?
BRENDA AKIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said elections were expensive. Had the country set aside money to support women in the upcoming elections? Had steps been taken to ensure the process was inclusive for women and girls with disabilities?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Kenya had an anti-trafficking and child protection unit, which undertook specialised investigations into child trafficking, sexual exploitation and abuse. It also conducted victim identification and provided advice. A specialised unit was established in 2022 to counter trafficking in persons. The trafficking in persons act outlined a minimum sentence of 30 years for perpetrators, as well as a substantial fine. Through the Kenyan Law Commission, Kenya would continue to monitor the effectiveness of these provisions. Kenya had a special envoy on technology and had been one of the first countries to suggest a resolution on the environmental impact of artificial intelligence. The country was involved in many artificial intelligence initiatives and highly engaged on this issue.
While Kenya had not ratified the Optional Protocol to the Convention, the State had developed a complex architecture for the protection of human rights, including those covered under the Convention.
The persons with disabilities act provided a stronger basis for the participation of women with disabilities. Mentorship programmes for women in politics were implemented throughout schools, and a curriculum with the Kenyan School of Government trained capacity building for women who were aspiring to take positions in the upcoming general elections. County peace committees were training women on peace negotiation skills.
The electoral law and the political parties’ amendment law provided protective measures for women running for office and women in politics. They spoke to the measures of political representation of women. Prior to the 2022 elections, the national cohesion integration commission developed and launched a roadmap which identified six roadblocks to elections, as well as hotspots, and launched targeted interventions. Quick action was taken to prosecute electoral-related offences. The judiciary also increased the number of judicial officers to handle election petitions. Victims of the 2022 electoral violence were compensated. Current initiatives built on success from the previous elections and ensured specific frameworks focused on women and girls in elections.
Kenya had a woman in the diplomacy leadership programme and had 44 women Ambassadors out of around 120. In 2024, 17 women had been appointed Ambassadors on the same day. There were several Kenyan women holding high-profile leadership positions within United Nations bodies, which was a great source of pride for the country.
Under the Constitution, every child had the integral right to a name and a nationality, from birth, supported by the birth and registration act. Mothers were now legally permitted to register their children’s paternal details on birth certificates, without requiring paternal consent. Kenya had now fully digitised its civil registration process, with the system fully linked to healthcare facilities, enabling hospitals to transmit birth data easily. In the last two months since the rollout, over 70,000 newborns were registered. Recently, the law was amended to establish at least one registration area in every one of Kenya’s 300 plus sub-counties, removing barriers to birth registration for women in rural areas. The State had also trained professionals responsible for visiting families and providing training on birth registration, and referring children to the authorities for registration when necessary.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said two acts ensured the inclusion of refugees in Kenya, including allowing those over 18 who had lived in Kenya for more than seven years to apply for citizenship. Kenya was reviewing and updating its draft plan to eliminate statelessness.
Women, youth and persons with disabilities were provided with discounted fees for political nomination. The political parties fund stipulated that the fund could be used in promoting special interest groups, including women. Any funds received by parties under the corresponding act must be used in this regard. The sexual amendment bill was going through extensive reforms, seeking to address artificial intelligence conduct, online grooming and image-based exploitation, among other crimes. Earlier this year, the Kenya artificial intelligence policy was adopted, marking a critical step in the country’s digital agenda.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert said despite some positive efforts made in regard to education in Kenya, only around 12 per cent of women and 13 per cent of men completed education beyond the secondary level; 13 per cent of women and 10 per cent of men had no formal education. The results of the 2026 programme for international student assessment in Kenya showed shortages of human and material resources. In areas vulnerable to disasters, this led to reduced household income, disrupted livelihoods and food insecurity. Students and parents were often forced to resort to coping mechanisms such as child marriage and child labour. Teenage pregnancy and campus bullying and harassment were also causes for concern.
Were there statistics regarding the number of girls who had dropped out of their studies? How could the State further strengthen school infrastructure, particularly by improving educational and sanitary conditions in rural areas and disaster-prone, impoverished regions, to increase enrolment, retention and completion rates among girls and girls with disabilities? How could more equitable and inclusive education policies be adopted to promote women’s participation in technology-related fields? What measures were being taken to prevent and eliminate harmful phenomena such as gender-based violence, sexual harassment and cyberbullying on school campuses? What complaints mechanisms were available? How would teenage pregnancy rates be reduced, and how would schools provide policy support and psychological guidance to help these girls return to school?
BRENDA AKIA, Committee Expert and Country Rapporteur, said there had been a case where one school had 36 cases of teenage pregnancy, which showed that this was a prevalent issue within the State party.
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said that Kenya had reached parity at the primary level and nearly reached parity at the secondary level, ensuring everyone was achieving their right to access education. When it came to the policy on promoting access and equity, the national re-entry guidelines allowed the continuation of learners who had dropped out, including expectant teenage mothers, to have a second chance at education. A guidance and counselling policy was in place to support learners, including girls affected by pregnancy. Kenya had identified the various categories of disability across the country and provided support, including through providing assistive devices.
The Government was committed to promoting equal opportunities to all school learners. Deliberate mentorship programmes were in place to enable women and girls to enrol in science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields. Between 2024 and 2025, the Government invested in 23,000 classrooms across Kenya and had committed to construct more than 1,600 laboratories in senior schools.
Kenya had a robust information system which focused on enrolment rates. Data on school enrolment was collected using the information management system. The information on girls who had dropped out of their studies was a work in progress.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert acknowledged the efforts of Kenya to fulfil its obligations under the Convention through increased women’s participation in employment.
However, women remained disproportionately concentrated in informal, precarious and lower-paid employment, with over 80 per cent of Kenyan women reportedly engaged in the informal economy, often characterised by the absence of formal contracts. What measures had been taken to facilitate the transition of women from informal, precarious and low-paid employment into formal and decent work?
How was the State party tackling the underrepresentation of women in higher-paid and innovative sectors such as quarrying, transportation, construction, energy and the digital economy? What gender disparities had been identified through the mandatory diversity reporting requirements of the Public Service Commissions? What plans had been made to double the statutory maternity leave period from the current three months to align with International Labour Organization Convention no. 183 on maternity protection, and strengthen legislation on paternity leave to promote the equal sharing of caregiving responsibilities between women and men and enhance women’s equal participation in employment? What measures had the State party taken to ensure that domestic workers enjoyed effective protection of their labour rights? What were the State’s timelines to ratify the relevant International Labour Organization Conventions?
Another Expert acknowledged the important measures Kenya had taken to strengthen access to health care, including the implementation of the 2023 social health insurance act and the transition towards universal health coverage, as well as the expansion of primary and community health services through community health promoters. However, significant gaps remained, particularly regarding access to health care for women and girls with disabilities, maternal health, safe abortion, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, and health services for women who used drugs.
What proportion of the health budget was allocated to making health facilities and services accessible to women and girls with disabilities, including at the county level? What measures were being taken to address stigma and discriminatory attitudes among health personnel towards women and girls with disabilities? Were health personnel receiving specific training? What measures were being taken to ensure adequate and sustained funding for maternal and reproductive health, and to ensure that allocated funds were actually disbursed? How did Kenya ensure that reviews of preventable maternal deaths resulted in concrete corrective measures and accountability? Were there plans to harmonise the Penal Code with the Constitution to provide legal clarity on access to abortion? What measures was Kenya taking to ensure that women and health professionals were not criminalised for accessing or providing lawful abortion and post-abortion care?
Teenage pregnancy remained a serious concern. Barriers to sexual and reproductive health information and services continued to affect adolescents, including access to confidential and adolescent-friendly services. What concrete measures were being taken to address the underlying causes of teenage pregnancy and to improve access to comprehensive sexuality education and sexual and reproductive health information and services? How would it be ensured that adolescents, including out-of-school girls, had confidential access to contraception and adolescent-friendly sexual and reproductive health services?
What was the current availability of mobile and community-based outreach services, particularly for girls and women who could easily access health facilities?
Would the State party consider decriminalising women who used drugs? What steps were being taken to move from a punitive approach towards a health- and human rights-based response?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said the Constitution guaranteed that domestic workers were entitled to wage protection. Sexual harassment remained prohibited, including against household workers. Work complaints could be taken to labour offices, while violent and sexual offenders could be reported to the police.
Before migrant workers departed, they were provided with training, including on how to report violations of their rights. Migrant worker support mechanisms had been established, including a desk at the international airport, as well as a toll-free mechanism which Kenyan migrants could call to seek assistance. Rules were in place to ensure that no more than two thirds of the workforce came from more than one ethnic community or was of the same gender. All institutions reported annually on compliance with these requirements, and where they were found falling short, action plans were implemented to ensure they complied with gender diversity requirements.
In 2023, Kenya implemented comprehensive reforms of four key laws in the health sector. The current persons with disability act (2025) highlighted measures specifically geared towards the rights of girls and women with disabilities to health, as well as containing specific provisions on the right to consent.
It was a crime to engage with a minor and the Government of Kenya recognised the law which criminalised any sexual violation of a person under the age of 18. The Government of Kenya provided age-appropriate education on health, reproductive health and development. This had been integrated within the school curriculum. Adolescents were provided with the correct information and life skills as they grew up to enable them to make informed choices. Life skills were deliberately woven through guidance and counselling programmes and other learner support interventions. When teenage pregnancy occurred, it was handled within the Kenyan provisions.
The Government had continued to increase funding towards the “every woman, every newborn, everywhere” plan. Government commitments included significant funding increases for maternal health care and supporting child health programmes. Kenya had mobilised development partner funding, with a plan towards greater domestic financing. The Government had adopted an evidence-based harm reduction programme, which integrated HIV care, among other services. There were harm reduction problems for people who used drugs, including methadone treatments, aiming to reduce unsafe injections.
Questions by Committee Experts
A Committee Expert commended the State party for its progressive efforts to advance women’s economic empowerment and social protection through policies like the national policy on women’s economic empowerment and the national care policy, among others. The improved ranking of Kenya by 33 places in the 2026 global gender gap report, compared with 2025, was commendable. However, Kenyan women and girls continued to face significant barriers to economic opportunities and access to resources and benefits, increasing their vulnerability to poverty. Additionally, Kenya lost an estimated KES 253 billion annually to illicit financial flows linked to corruption and other criminal activities, which exacerbated poverty and gender inequalities.
How was the State party translating the measurement and valuation of unpaid care work into concrete policies, budget allocations and investments in care services, and how were the impacts measured and monitored? Did the national care policy address the different care needs and constraints faced by women? What measures were taken to prevent and address illicit financial flows? How was the economic value of women’s unpaid care and domestic work recognised, and integrated into social protection frameworks? What measures had the State party taken to close the digital gender gap and ensure women’s equal access to digital technologies and opportunities in technology-intensive sectors? Could data be provided on women’s participation and representation in professional sports and sports media?
Another Committee Expert said de facto discrimination existed for women and indigenous groups, with some indigenous groups calling for reparations for abuses during the colonial era. How would restorative justice for these people be applied? A spate of recent high-profile cases battling rigid traditional practices had successfully protected second wives, married daughters and informal partners. How were these important doctrinal legal rulings being used to ensure that marriage did not strip away a married daughter’s rights to property? How were mobile courts and artificial intelligence being used in courts, particularly in rural areas? How were the “tech courts” that were deployed to remote areas being accessed by women?
How did rural women with disabilities lead in climate governance and advance Kenya’s national climate action plans? How did they participate in clean cooking projects and other relevant programmes for rural women? How would it be ensured that artificial intelligence data centres would not lead to water scarcity? Kenyan data centres were “cleaning data”; how was it ensured that this was not being done under forced labour conditions? What kind of surveillance and protection was available for workers?
Responses by the Delegation
The delegation said Kenya had the proceeds of a crime and anti-money laundering act, which provided for the investigation into proceeds of crime and money laundering. Transparency had been increased when it came to public resources. Discussions were ongoing around how the institutions that managed public funds and oversaw corruption would work together.
Kenya aimed to identify and quantify care work, and include it in the national systems, through the gross domestic products, and renumerate accordingly.
Kenya took a comprehensive approach to addressing historical injustices. A national policy for marginalised and indigenous peoples was passed last year, which would comprehensively address issues of historical injustice. There had been some progress regarding reparations, including formal colonial powers acknowledging the injustices, although this was still a work in progress. The National Council of Administration of Justice ensured that everyone had equal access to the internet, including indigenous peoples, meaning they could access the updates of their court proceedings online.
Kenya had taken key legislative actions to combat illicit financial flows, including the anti-money laundering laws, as well as a recently enacted conflict of interest act, which banned public officials from participating in processes where they held a conflict of interest.
Kenya had robust approaches to climate change, including clean cooking technologies, and hosted the first summit on this topic a few weeks ago at the General Assembly. The State was moving towards smarter cooking techniques and materials.
Forced labour in data centres was a serious component of human trafficking. The Government had taken robust steps in this regard, but criminal networks always found a different route. Around 80 people had been repatriated so far, but more people were continually coming in. The Government was educating the diaspora on what to look for before they moved for a job. Kenya had originally wanted to host data centres, before it realised how much water and electricity they consumed. The country was very engaged on this issue and had engaged on the topic of data centres and the environment at the United Nations in New York and Geneva.
Questions by a Committee Expert
A Committee Expert appreciated that the 2014 marriage act and the 2022 children's act set 18 as the minimum age for marriage. However, child marriage persisted in the State party. Could the delegation provide disaggregated data on child and forced marriage, and on cases reported, prosecuted and punished? What measures would the State party take to discourage and prohibit polygamy and protect the property and inheritance rights of these women?
What was the status of the draft law on the protection of widows? Was its approval expected, and when? Were there plans to reflect the right to inheritance of a child born out of wedlock, in inheritance legislation? What time frames had the State party set for eliminating substitution in decision-making and ensuring that women with disabilities decided freely about their marriage and motherhood, without losing custody of their children? What measures would the State party take to ensure the legal and social protection of female-headed households, and to ensure that same-sex couples and their children were not discriminated against in their family, property and inheritance rights?
Responses the Delegation
The delegation said the Government had continued to implement the national policy in relation to gender-based violence which provided protection to property and inheritance. The Government was in the process of reviewing laws to identify areas where women faced barriers, including property ownership. The Government had strengthened the customary framework for marriage and improved access to legal remedies.
Public education initiatives continued to focus on women’s equality and non-discrimination, including succession and inheritance rights and parental responsibility. The widow’s protection bill was still at its initial stages and would be considered through the normal legislative processes. The use of out-of-court settlements to address sexual and gender-based violence was forbidden under law.
The persons with disabilities act provided protection to women with intellectual disabilities, including from gender-based violence. The implementation of this act was also supported by the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, whose members had developed clear and robust disability screening mechanisms. Women with intellectual disabilities were able to access services at the community level. The social protection act of 2025 recognised persons with disabilities as those who required social care and assistance services. This was a milestone in achieving care and support services, especially for those with intellectual disabilities.
Closing Statements
ANNE NJOKI WANG’OMBE, Principal Secretary, Kenya’s State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, Head of Ministry Team and head of the delegation, extended sincere appreciation for the constructive and frank dialogue. Kenya acknowledged the Committee’s concerns regarding discriminatory laws, access to justice, implementation of court decisions and the protection of women human rights defenders, among other issues. As Kenya looked towards the 2027 general elections, the country recognised the importance of women’s meaningful political participation, and the implementation of the two-thirds gender principle and protection of female candidates. Kenya reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that every woman and girl could live free from discrimination and violence, participate fully in public life and exercise her rights with dignity, both online and offline.
MARIANNE MIKKO, Committee Vice-Chair, thanked the delegation of Kenya for the constructive dialogue which had provided further insight into the situation of women in the State party. The Committee commended the State party for its efforts, and encouraged it to make all efforts to implement the recommendations of the Committee.
___________
Produced by the United Nations Information Service in Geneva for use of the media;
not an official record. English and French versions of our releases are different as they are the product of two separate coverage teams that work independently.
CEDAW26.017E