| ||||
| General Statistics | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maternal mortality (per 100,000) | 360 (2010) | |||
| Women in parliament | 19.9% (2013) | |||
| Women over 25 with secondary education | 25.3% (2012) | |||
| Women in labour force | 62.0% (2012) | |||
| Gender Inequality Index[1] | ||||
| Value | 0.506 (2021) | |||
| Rank | 128th out of 191 | |||
| Global Gender Gap Index[2] | ||||
| Value | 0.729 (2022) | |||
| Rank | 57th out of 146 | |||
| Part of a series on |
| Women in society |
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The history of the evolution of the traits of women in Kenya can be divided into Women within Swahili culture, Women in British Kenya, and Kenyan Women post-Independence.[3] The condition and status of the female population in Kenya has faced many changes over the past century.
Kenya was a British colony from 1888 until 1963.[4] Before colonial rule, women had played important roles in the community, from raising and bringing up children to working on farms and in marketplaces. Under colonial rule, women became increasingly unimportant to the economic system, and their powers and influence soon faded from the public sphere.[5] Despite this, some women such as Mekatilili wa Menza and other women including Muthoni wa Kirima who was part of the Mau Mau uprising fought alongside men during the campaign for independence and are acknowledged in the country's long history for their contributions.[6]
After Kenya gained independence in 1963, women have still faced issues relating to sexism and have not been given many opportunities in sectors such as education except for a small number of young women.[7] Women still face many problems, such as child marriages, arranged marriages, female genital mutilation, the AIDS epidemic, poor quality of maternal healthcare, as well as a lack of education.[5] Although Kenya still has a long way to go in hearing the plight of women, there continues to be an improvement in financial, social and economic inclusion within the country at different stages ranging from dialogue, policy implementation, representation and so forth.[8]
In Kenya, women have little opportunities to obtain decision making roles in the government, despite a gender rule in the 2010 constitution, which further sets women back. Although Kenya is behind in this case, there are a few influential women who haven taken seats in the Kenyan parliament.[9]
- ^ "Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). Human Development Reports. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
- ^ "Global Gender Gap Report 2022" (PDF). World Economic Forum. Retrieved 16 February 2023.
- ^ Gatwiri Kariuki, Claris (22–28 December 2010). "Women Participation in the Kenyan Society" (PDF). The African Executive. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
- ^ Bates, Francesca (19 January 2015). "British Rule in Kenya". Washington State University. Retrieved 9 March 2017.
- ^ a b Gatwiri Kariuki, Claris (22 December 2010). "WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN THE KENYAN SOCIETY" (PDF). The African Executive.
- ^ "Muthoni Kirima, The Only Female Mau Mau Field Marshal". YouTube. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ Karani, Florida (1987). "The Situation and Roles of Women in Kenya". The Journal of Negro Education. 53 (3): 422–434. doi:10.2307/2295235. JSTOR 2295235.
- ^ "Women Rights in Kenya" (PDF).
- ^ Kamau, Nyokabi (2010). "Women and Political Leadership in Kenya" (PDF). East and Horn of Africa – via Henrich Böll Stiftung.