Kenya’s gender equality milestones in 2025: Progress for women and men
Gender equality symbol.
What you need to know:
- Key milestones included targeted economic support for mothers who are sole caregivers, male-only medical camps to improve men’s health outcomes, and a groundbreaking national care policy recognising unpaid work.
- By expanding maternity services and launching a national male engagement strategy, Kenya signalled a shift towards a more inclusive gender agenda that recognises vulnerability, shared responsibility and structural reform.
In 2025, Kenya achieved key milestones in gender equality, offering hope for women and men alike. From national policies to county-level initiatives, these steps marked progress in addressing entrenched inequalities.
Empowering mothers as sole caregivers
President William Ruto announced plans to train 600,000 mothers who are sole caregivers, along with other women, on doing business with county and national governments through the Access to Government Procurement Opportunities programme. The initiative aims to help them access government tenders and grow their businesses.
He made this statement in October during the funeral of Mzee Weston Kanja, father of Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja, in Thome, Laikipia County.
Some Kenyans mocked the announcement, revealing a lack of understanding of the realities women face as heads of households. Many of these households exist because women and girls have survived rape, defilement, the death of a male partner, neglect, abandonment, or escaped abusive marriages and relationships.
These households often experience high levels of poverty. Their economic stability is further undermined by the gender pay gap, especially because many women-headed households have lower levels of education. UN Women reports show that women with less education earn Sh69 for every Sh100 earned by men, compared with Sh82 for women with higher education.
By focusing on mother-only households, the President highlighted a historically marginalised group, marking a milestone in the journey to empower all women.
Nyeri’s male-only medical camps
According to the World Health Organisation’s Global Cancer Observatory, prostate cancer is the leading killer of men. In 2022, it caused 2,029 deaths in Kenya, with 3,582 new cases reported - a serious call for action.
In an interview last September, Dr Joan-Paula Bor, Acting Head of the National Cancer Control Programme, noted that low screening uptake among men remains a major concern. Men’s health advocates have also called for male-friendly clinics where men can seek services without stigma or fear of judgment.
In response, Nyeri’s male-only medical camps have become a significant milestone in preventing health complications and avoidable deaths among men. Encouragingly, many men participated.
For example, over 500 men attended the inaugural in-reach clinic at Othaya Subcounty Hospital in Nyeri South, according to the county’s Department of Medical Services and Public Health. They accessed a wide range of critical services, including cancer screening, checks for non-communicable diseases, blood pressure and diabetes monitoring, HIV testing and counselling, and general consultations, providing a safe space to discuss their health concerns openly.
National care policy recognising unpaid work
The State Department of Gender made history by developing the National Care Policy, which formally recognises unpaid care work, traditionally borne by women. The policy seeks to change entrenched cultural and traditional norms that assign care responsibilities exclusively to women.
In many households, girls are removed from school to care for the sick or elderly, limiting their educational and employment opportunities. The policy calls for the establishment of well-equipped childcare centres, enabling women to participate in the workforce, as well as properly staffed and resourced elder care facilities. Domestic workers are also included, with an emphasis on training, respect, and fair remuneration.
Grace Wasike, Director of the Socio-Economic Empowerment Directorate, said in an earlier interview that the success of the policy’s implementation will partly be measured by economic growth, as a more vibrant and productive sector emerges when individuals can focus on work instead of unpaid labour.
“Another indicator will be the recognition of care work - reflected in national accounts - as a valid contributor to economic growth,” she said.
“We will also monitor the enrolment and performance of girls relative to boys in educational settings. Additionally, we expect an increase in participants completing training courses for caregiving, such as those focused on elderly care.”
Expanding access to maternity services
At the 12th National and County Governments Coordinating Summit, a resolution was passed directing the Ministry of Health and the Council of Governors to develop a framework, by January 2026, for providing maternity services at level two and three health facilities. The services will be funded through the Primary Health Care Fund under the Social Health Authority legal framework.
Putting men at the centre of change
For the first time in Kenya’s gender equality journey, men and boys have been placed at the centre of a national initiative. The National Male Engagement and Inclusion Strategy (2025–2030) by the State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action, recognises men as beneficiaries, not just allies, highlighting their vulnerabilities, particularly young men, men with disabilities, and those living in poverty.
The strategy addresses harmful socialisation that teaches boys to hide vulnerability, discouraging health-seeking and leading to high mortality, low self-esteem, and neglect of self-care. It also responds to high involvement of men in crime: according to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, men are three to four times more likely to commit intentional homicides. In Kenya, the 2022 homicide rate was 4.9 per 100,000, with men accounting for most of the 2,643 deaths.
Interventions include training on positive masculinity, behaviour change, safe dialogue forums for psychosocial support, advocacy to reduce stigma around health-seeking, and economic empowerment programmes. Leadership training is also planned for marginalised men and boys, promoting gender-balanced leadership and active participation in decision-making.
