Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women and Girls: The Implementation of SDG 5 in Kenya

Abstract

The purpose of this paper was to analyse the implementation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number five. The UN prescribed the Sustainable Development Goals, targets and indicators for global development, but the implementation was left to individual countries. This paper attempts to identify and document Kenya’s strategies to implement SDG 5 and the challenges faced. The paper adds to exiting literature on SDGs. SDG 5 seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls. The paper used desktop research to collect data which was reviewed and analysed thematically. Government policies and laws dealing with gender issues in Kenya were analyzed, and how they have had an impact on the implementation of the SDG. The paper found that Kenya has advanced in formulation of laws and policies aimed at gender equality. Further, it established that the challenges which hinder the attainment of SDG 5 include: cultural barriers, limited funds and poor application of the laws and policies dealing with issues of gender and empowerment of women and girls. The paper concludes that Kenya has sufficient laws, policies and institutions to enable the country attain SDG 5, but the implementation has lacked behind because of the challenges mentioned above. The paper recommends that the government should put in place measures that facilitate more participation of women and girls in development activities. Further, the government should empower women and girls through training, and thereafter facilitate them to access resources and own property. Deliberate efforts should be put in place to protect women from gender-based violence. Lastly, policy should be formulated to address unpaid care and domestic work.