Directorate of Gender Balance and Equality

The Directorate is charged with the mandate of spearheading Gender Mainstreaming in Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Counties (MDACs) and the Private Sector to achieve gender equity and equality across all sectors. It initiates the development of policies and guidelines meant to coordinate and monitor the implementation of programs and projects. The Directorate is tasked with the coordination of County Field Services and the Gender Focal Persons in MDACs. The directorate as well advocates for the advancement of women in leadership as envisioned in the Constitution.

Jackline Makokha

Director Gender Balance and equality

Functions
  1. Prepares relevant reports on implementation of gender related provisions in the Constitution, including the 2/3 gender principle.
  2. Promote gender responsive budgeting in MDACs;
  3. Conducts appraisals of policies, programmes and practices across sectors for gender responsiveness.
  4. Engages Ministries/Departments, Counties, Agencies (MDCAs) on gender policy, legislation and budgeting and institutionalizes gender mainstreaming and develops/designs innovative programmes to recognize and encourage institutionalization of gender responsive initiatives at national and county level;
  5. Coordinates of capacity building programmes for Gender Officers and Ministerial Gender Mainstreaming Committee;
  6. Coordinates Gender Sector Working Group meetings; and
Planned Activities/Programmes
  1. Constitute and operationalize the Male Engagement and Inclusion sub-committee of the Gender Sector Working Group.
  2. Develop a National Male Engagement and Inclusion Strategy.
  3. Disseminate report of the Multi-Sectoral Working Group on the realization of not more than two-thirds gender principle.
  4. Hold consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders on the enactment and implementation of the not more than two-thirds gender principle.
  5. Conduct an analysis of the implementation of gender mainstreaming in MDAs.
  6. Develop a National Action Plan on Gender and Climate Change.
  7. Undertake capacity building on Gender Mainstreaming for officers in the Public Service.
  8. Convene two meetings of the National Gender Sector Working Group
  9. Commemorate international womens’ day
Achievements
  1. The Male Engagement and Inclusion sub-committees of the Gender Sector Working Group have been established and are now operational in 18 counties.
  2. Developed a draft on National Male Engagement and Inclusion Strategy.
  3. The report from the Multi-Sectoral Working Group regarding the implementation of the two-thirds gender principle has been prepared and submitted to Parliament for approval.
  4. The report from the Multi-Sectoral Working Group on the realization of the two-thirds gender principle has been disseminated.
  5. Held consultative meetings with relevant stakeholders on the enactment and implementation of the not more than two-thirds gender principle.
  6. Conducted an analysis of the implementation of gender mainstreaming in MDAs.
  7. Public Service officers have received training to enhance their capacity in gender mainstreaming.
  8. Convened two(Bi-Annual) meetings of the National Gender Sector Working Group in 2024.
  9. Developed the Gender Mainstreaming Hand Book for Field Services
Strategies

It will achieve this through the following strategies:

Strengthen public and private institutional capacities on gender mainstreaming
Strengthen male engagement and inclusion in promotion on gender equality and empowerment of women
Strengthen coordination of gender programming at national and county level
Enhance the participation of women in leadership and decision making at all levels