BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH SDG 5

Kenya is a relevant case study for SDG 5 because it has developed a strong legal and constitutional framework promoting gender equality. The 2010 Constitution establishes principles of equality and non-discrimination, while national policies address women’s political participation, economic empowerment, gender-based violence, and harmful practices.

Progress can be seen in girls’ access to education, women’s economic participation, and efforts to combat female genital mutilation (FGM) and child marriage. Kenya has also introduced legislation and national programmes aimed at strengthening the protection of women and girls.

However, important challenges remain. Women are still underrepresented in political decision-making and face barriers to land ownership, financial resources, formal employment, and economic independence. Gender-based violence, FGM, and child marriage also remain concerns, particularly in certain regions and communities.

CURRENT CHALLENGES AND RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

Political representation remains a key issue. Although the Constitution promotes greater participation of women, the implementation of the two-thirds gender principle has remained difficult, and women continue to be underrepresented in elected positions.

Economic inequality is another important concern. Many Kenyan women work in agriculture, informal employment, and small businesses, but unequal access to land, credit, financial services, and formal employment can limit their economic opportunities. Women also perform a larger share of unpaid care work.

Gender-based violence and harmful practices such as FGM and child marriage continue to affect women and girls. Kenya has adopted laws and programmes to address these issues, but enforcement and access to protection and justice remain important challenges.

Kenya therefore offers delegates an opportunity to discuss how legal reform, political participation, economic empowerment, and the protection of women and girls can contribute to achieving SDG 5.

LIST OF REFERENCES

Government of Kenya. (n.d.). Goal 5: Gender equality. Kenya SDGs. https://sdgs.planning.go.ke/goal-5/

Government of Kenya, State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action. (n.d.). State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action. https://gender.go.ke/

United Nations Development Programme. (n.d.). Kenya: Human Development Report data. https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data#/countries/KEN

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (n.d.). Kenya. OECD. https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/pisa/kenya.html

United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs. (n.d.). SDG indicators: Kenya country profile. United Nations. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/ken

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. (n.d.). Kenya. United Nations Human Rights Office. https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/kenya

Sustainable Development Solutions Network. (2025). Kenya: Sustainable Development Report 2025. https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/kenya/

UN Women. (n.d.). Kenya country data. UN Women Data Hub. https://data.unwomen.org/country/kenya

UN Women. (n.d.). Kenya. UN Women Africa. https://africa.unwomen.org/en/where-we-are/eastern-and-southern-africa/kenya

USEFUL LINKS

• Country report/Voluntary National Reviews

  • https://sdgs.planning.go.ke/goal-5/

  • https://gender.go.ke/ 

• Bibliography and UN pages about this country:

  • UNPD: https://hdr.undp.org/data-center/specific-country-data?utm_source=chatgpt.com#/countries/KEN 

  • OECD: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/programmes/pisa/kenya.html 

  • UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs: https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/dataportal/countryprofiles/ken 

  • UN human rights: https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/kenya 

  • Index: https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/kenya/ 

  • UN WOMEN count: https://data.unwomen.org/country/kenya 

  • UN women: https://africa.unwomen.org/en/where-we-are/eastern-and-southern-africa/kenya