After gaining independence in 1963, Kenya’s constitution established that “no law may be made to discriminate against another nor may any person discriminate against another and claim it was justified through law or governmental authority.” However, the country’s long-established patriarchal system restricted women from fully participating in the social, economic, and political domains. In 2010, a new progressive, human-rights-based constitution was declared the law of the land recognizing gender equality across all sectors. Though great strides have been made, discrimination and gender stereotypes persist and women and girls remain the most vulnerable in society. Economic rights are limited, gender-based violence is prevalent, and women hold just 22 percent of the seats in parliament. Fortunately, female activism runs deep in Kenya, and women’s rights organizations continue to play an integral role in helping to change public policy and advance gender equality.
Despite cultural and structural constraints preventing women and girls from participating in sports, Kenya has some of the world’s greatest female athletes. Over the past several decades, Kenya’s distance runners have dominated the sport. Tegla Loroupe became the first woman from Africa to hold the marathon World Record, as well as the first to win the New York City Marathon. Brigid Kosgei won the 2019 Chicago Marathon and set a new world record, becoming the only woman ever to run under 2 hours and 15 minutes. Jemima Sumgong won the Olympic marathon in 2016 and Peres Jepchirchir won gold at the 2020 Olympic Games with Kosgei winning silver. In the 2020 Games, women made up 56 percent of the entire Kenyan team, the highest in the country’s Olympic history.
Meet and support global leaders creating change in Kenya:
Cynthia Coredo
Lizzie Kiama
Grace Kiraguri
Barbara Kokonya
Maqulate Atieno Onyango
Veronica Osogo
How does Kenya compare to other countries?
Where do you want to explore next?
Women in Leadership
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN PARLIAMENT AS OF 2020
22%
PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY POSITIONS AS OF 2020
25%
Has a Woman Ever Been Head of State or Head of Government?
No
HAS A WOMAN EVER BEEN SPORTS MINISTER?
Esther Murugi, 2008-2009
Naomi Shaban, 2009-2013
Amina Mohammed, 2019- Present
Title IX Timeline
1956
Margaret Northrop, a swimmer, became the first woman to represent Kenya in the Olympics.
1963
On December 12 Kenya became an independent nation under the Kenya Independence Act, cutting ties from colonial Great Britain. Women gained the right to vote (full suffrage).
1980
Four athletes became the first women to represent Kenya in the Paralympics and Lucy Wanjiru became the first woman from Kenya to win a Paralympic medal (gold- javelin throw).
1984
Kenya signed the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
1996
Pauline Konga won a silver medal in athletics to become the first woman from Kenya to win an Olympic medal.
2016
Kenya signed the UN Security Council Resolution 1325, affirming that peace and security efforts are more sustainable when women are equal partners in the prevention of violent conflict, the delivery of relief and recovery efforts and in the forging of lasting peace.
Women in the olympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
1
-
3
-
2
-
9
-
19
-
64
-
54
-
50
Women in the Paralympics
participation through the years
-
0
-
0
-
9
-
12
-
16
-
4
-
3
Elite Sports Participation
First Year Women Participated In The Olympics
1956
Year Women’s Participation In Olympics Was Equal To Men’s
2004
First Time A Woman Won An Olympic Medal
Pauline Konga: 1996, Athletics (Silver)
First Year Women Participated In The Paralympics
1980
Year Women’s Participation In Paralympics Was Equal To Men’s
2004
First Time A Woman Won A Paralympic Medal
Lucy Wanjiru: 1980, Javelin (Gold)
FIFA
Fédération Internationale de Football Association
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1993
Pay Gap Comparison
Paid Less than the Men's Team as of 2022
Gender Initiatives
Women’s football development has become one of the top priorities of the Kenyan Football Federation.
FIFA is committed to the growth and development of women’s football around the globe.
For More Information
Women’s Premier League in Kenya
FIFA: Women's Development Program
FIBA
Fédération Internationale de Basketball
National Women’s Team?
Yes
First Year Of Play
1986
Pay Gap Comparison
Pay Unknown
Gender Initiatives
The NBA and the Basketball Africa League are working together across Africa to raise awareness about gender-based violence, support girls’ education, and increase female involvement in basketball at all levels.
Increasing the participation of women in basketball at all levels was named as one of FIBA’s eight strategic objectives (2019- 2027) and one of FIBA’s three strategic priorities (2019-2023).
For More Information
NBA + Basketball Africa League Partnership
FIBA Strategic Objectives
LOCAL
Sports
Initiatives
Community Organizations That Have Signed The Brighton + Helsinki Declaration
