Global survey ranks Kenya among 73 best nations to live in as a woman
Kenya is one of the best 73 countries in the world to live in as a woman, and raise children based on the latest global perception survey by U.S. News and World Report.
Being placed at position 70 and 55 as the best country to be a woman and best to raise a child respectively, Kenya proves to have made progress in promoting women and child rights.
The ‘2020 Best Countries’ focused on the relative gaps between women and men across health, education, economy, and politics.
It involved nearly 9,800 women and offered insights on 73 countries with overall scores being based on various attributes that included, how much the country cares about human rights, gender equality, income equality, and progress and safety.
Other African countries that featured in the rankings include Ghana, South Africa, Malaysia, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Malaysia
Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Norway and Canada took the lead as the best countries in the world to either be a woman, or raise a child.
Kenya's doing
In Kenya, both the national and county governments have introduced laws and policies aimed at protecting the rights of women, girls and children.
At the national level, free maternal care, prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) Act, Matrimonial Property Act and Marriage Act and preferential procurement policy, which requires that 30 per cent of public tenders to be awarded to women and youth, are among the laws and policies safeguarding women.
Counties have also instituted progressive legislations anchored on the rights of the girl-child.
Meru and Kisumu counties have, for instance, introduced county-based policies on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) which outline strategies for tackling related offences.
Kajiado, has in place an FGM policy, that provides a framework on ending the vice that has contributed to early marriages, and teen school drop outs.
Turkana County has enacted the Water Act to ensure water and sanitation services are availed to vulnerable groups that include women and children.
