Women’s empowerment index launched to drive gender equality in Kenya

Kenya recently launched its first Women’s Empowerment Index, a joint initiative by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with UN Women and UNICEF. The index aims to track the progress towards achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls across the country. According to Anna Mutavati, the Country Director of UN Women Kenya, the index highlights the stark reality that 75% of women in Kenya are disempowered, failing to meet the standard criteria of empowerment, while only 29% are considered empowered. The index is based on a set of indicators, with a focus on poverty, education, and the number of children in a household, all key considerations in determining a woman's level of empowerment. The data generated by the Women’s Empowerment Index is intended to inform government policies, programs, and budgets, enabling policymakers to tailor-make solutions that address gender disparities effectively. It also serves as a means of monitoring progress towards gender equality and women's empowerment, crucial for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and ensuring that Kenya is on track to close gender gaps. Achieving gender equality has significant implications for Kenya's economy, with the potential to add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025 if gender barriers are eliminated. Women constitute over half of Kenya's population, and their full participation in the economy can contribute significantly to the country's economic development. However, challenges such as violence against women continue to hinder progress towards gender equality in Kenya. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this issue, leading to a rise in reported cases of domestic violence during the lockdown period. The country has witnessed a significant increase in reported cases of domestic violence, with numbers escalating rapidly since the implementation of lockdown measures in March. This spike underscores the urgent need to address violence against women and enhance measures to protect and empower women in Kenya. Despite the challenges, the launch of the Women’s Empowerment Index signifies a crucial step towards advancing gender equality and empowering women in Kenya, setting the stage for targeted interventions and policy reforms that aim to create a more inclusive and equitable society.