Four parliaments, zero progress: will new Gender CS finally break the curse?

After an eight-month leadership vacuum, Kenya's Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage is poised to welcome a new Cabinet Secretary. President William Ruto has nominated Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, widow of the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo, to replace Aisha Jumwa, who was let go in July last year.

As Ms Cheptumo awaits vetting and approval by the National Assembly before assuming office, she inherits a ministry grappling with critical challenges that demand urgent attention and strong leadership.

Perhaps the most pressing item in Hanna's in-tray is the implementation of the long-elusive two-thirds gender rule. This constitutional principle has haunted four consecutive parliaments—the tenth, eleventh, twelfth, and current—with all attempts to operationalise it failing to yield results.

Read: With or without a Gender CS, I'm creating change village by village

The gender rule mandates that the state takes steps to ensure that not more than two-thirds of members in all elective and appointive positions are of the same gender. This rule recognises the historical marginalisation of women in Kenya's political system and requires the state to implement measures guaranteeing their right to equality.

In February last year, former CS Jumwa received a comprehensive report from the Multi-Sectoral Working Group that contained a framework for implementing the gender rule. The report proposed several legislative changes, including the Constitution of Kenya Amendment Bill, aimed at anchoring the gender principle within the constitutional framework, making it a fundamental and binding aspect of the country's governance.

Read: The missing piece in Ruto's cabinet

It also recommended the Political Parties Amendment Bill, seeking to eliminate barriers within the electoral system and adopt proportional representation. Additionally, the report called for the Elections Act Amendment Bill, intended to introduce gender electoral units and modify the nomination process to ensure gender balance and remove obstacles hindering the realisation of the gender principle.

Daisy Amdany, the taskforce co-chair, revealed to Nation.Africa that the proposed changes include a transitional clause enabling the current parliament to conform to the requirements of the gender rule.

"Once the desired changes are made in the Constitution and the various laws, parliament will be required to nominate additional women MPs to bridge the existing gap and make it compliant to the gender rule," explained Amdany.

Despite the taskforce submitting these proposals to parliament in April last year, the report has yet to be tabled on the floor of the House.

Tackling the femicide crisis     

The new CS will also be expected to address the alarming rise in femicide cases across the country. Over the past year, Kenya has witnessed disturbing statistics on gender-based violence, with a significant increase in the killings of women and girls.

In January, President Ruto constituted a taskforce to investigate the femicide menace, appointing former Deputy Chief Justice Dr Nancy Barasa to head a 34-member team. The taskforce was charged with assessing, reviewing, and recommending measures to strengthen current policies and structures to eliminate GBV and femicide cases.

"There are existing gaps in prevention, response, investigations, prosecution, data management, and survivor support systems in GBV and Femicide cases. Such egregious violations pose a threat to our national security as well as strain the nation's social fabric," read part of the gazette notice.

In December last year, Deputy Inspector General of Police Eliud Lagat, reported that authorities had recorded at least 97 femicide cases over just three months.

Read: Dear Mr President, where is our Gender CS?

Dr Sam Thenya, CEO of Nairobi Women Hospital, emphasised that the femicide crisis is not merely a government issue but a societal problem. "It is a crisis and something definitely needs to be done. The economic burden of GBV is enormous on the economy. We must speak against this vice that is being perpetuated against women and girls. They are our daughters, wives, sisters and mothers," he told Nation.Africa.

According to a report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), there were 725 reported cases of femicide in 2024, translating to a rate of 2.66 per 100,000 women. The report indicates that every week, 47 women are killed in Kenya, with approximately 75 per cent of these killings committed by someone known to the victims—an intimate partner, relative, or friend. Globally, the report notes that a woman was killed every 11 minutes this year.

Broader gender equality challenges

Beyond these pressing issues, Ms Cheptumo will be looked upon to provide guidance on achieving gender equality throughout the country. Her strategies to address teenage pregnancies, end Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), enhance women's economic empowerment, and secure women's land rights will be critical for Kenyan women.

The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022, released by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics, shows that while Kenya is making progress in reducing the national prevalence of FGM, teenage pregnancy, and gender-based violence, these issues persist with women and girls bearing the brunt.

The survey reveals that teenage pregnancy rates declined to 15 per cent in 2022, down from 18 percent in 2014. Poverty and lack of education were associated with higher rates of adolescent pregnancy; about four in ten women aged 15-19 years with no education have been pregnant, compared to only 5 percent of women with more than secondary education.

On FGM, the survey indicates that the prevalence has been steadily declining in the country. The national prevalence rate stood at 15 percent in 2022, continuing a downward trend from highs of 21 and 32 percent recorded in 2014 and 2003, respectively.

A ministry in waiting

The Ministry of Gender has been without a Cabinet Secretary since the National Assembly Committee on Appointments rejected the nomination of Stella Soi Lang'at in August 2024. The committee's report, adopted by the whole House, stated that her nomination could not be approved as she failed to convince lawmakers of her suitability for the role, demonstrating insufficient knowledge of topical, administrative, and technical issues related to the portfolio.

Women leaders across the country have welcomed Ms Cheptumo's nomination, describing it as long overdue. Diana Kamande, founder of Come Together Widows and Orphans Organisation, expressed confidence in the nominee.

"This nomination is a major milestone for widows, and we are confident that with her leadership, the widows' agenda will gain stronger representation, and key policies will be effectively implemented. We look forward to a future where widows' voices are heard, their rights upheld, and their contributions to society recognised," she said.

As CS nominee prepares to step into her new role, she faces the monumental task of navigating these complex challenges while providing the leadership needed to advance gender equality in Kenya.

dmaihuhie@ke.nationmedia.com