Gender, Countering Violent Extremism and Women, Peace and Security in Kenya

Abstract

Kenya ranks 109 out of 153 countries in the Global Gender Gap Report 2020, with a score of 0.671. There are significant inequalities between males and females in education attainment, health outcomes, representation in parliament, and labour force participation. This Factsheet outlines some of the top-line information on gender, countering violent extremism and women, peace and security in Kenya. Some highlights include: Women and adolescent girls are the most vulnerable group in Kenya, particularly to poverty: female poverty is exacerbated by gender-based violence (GBV), harmful cultural attitudes, and beliefs around gender roles, norms and female empowerment; Women have limited control over benefits from land and other resources. Combined with unpaid childcare and domestic work, this constrains their successful participation in the economy, particularly as producers and market actors; Women make up 80% of farm labourers and manage 40% of the country’s smallholder farms, yet own only 1% of agricultural land; Women’s ability to access the justice system is limited by legal costs, traditional justice systems, illiteracy and ignorance of rights.