Kenya trails in women leadership – Chiggai

The Women's Rights advisor said Kenya has the lowest representation of women in Parliament

In Summary
  • Chiggai said that Kenya is an economic giant in East Africa but it's trailing behind in terms of women's leadership.
  • She was speaking during a media engagement forum to discuss paving the way for implementation of the two-thirds gender rule in Parliament.
Presidential advisor on women rights Harriet Chiggai during a media engagement forum on proposed amendments to the constitution at Tamarind Hotel on January 27, 2023.
Presidential advisor on women rights Harriet Chiggai during a media engagement forum on proposed amendments to the constitution at Tamarind Hotel on January 27, 2023.
Image: CHARLENE MALWA

Women's Rights advisor to the President, Harriet Chiggai has lamented the country's state of women's representation in Kenya.

Chiggai said that Kenya is an economic giant in East Africa but it's trailing behind in terms of women's leadership.

She was speaking during a media engagement forum to discuss paving the way for implementation of the two-thirds gender rule in Parliament.

"Kenya has the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) capacity in East Africa," she said.

She further said Kenya has the lowest representation of women in Parliament across the region.

"The East African country with the highest number of women in Parliament is Rwanda with a total of 64 per cent," she said.

It is followed by Tanzania with 36 per cent, and Uganda and Burundi tied at 35 per cent women in Parliament.

"However, Kenya has only 20 per cent composition of women in Parliament, both Senate and the National Assembly," she said.

She called on the media to be on the frontline of highlighting the gender gap and ways of bridging it.


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