Kenya’s pursuit of equitable access to education has come under renewed scrutiny following fresh reports highlighting persistent gender disparities in several disadvantaged regions. The findings, compiled by education stakeholders and local administrators, show that girls in arid and semi-arid counties continue to face disproportionate barriers to schooling, including early marriage, insecurity, long distances to school, and chronic household poverty. Officials say the situation has stalled progress toward gender parity, with some communities recording worrying dropout rates among adolescent girls despite national efforts to expand learning opportunities.
According to the report, counties such as Turkana, West Pokot, Mandera, Tana River and Samburu remain the most affected, with cultural practices and limited infrastructure cited as the main contributors. Teachers who participated in the study said many girls miss school for weeks due to domestic responsibilities, inadequate menstrual hygiene support, or fear of insecurity while travelling to distant institutions. In some regions, community elders still prioritise boys’ education, believing girls should marry early or take up household roles. The Ministry of Education notes that although national enrolment has grown, the quality of learning and transition rates for girls in marginalised zones lag significantly behind those of boys, especially at the secondary level.
Education advocates and local leaders are now calling for targeted interventions, warning that the disparities could widen if not addressed urgently. Civil society groups have recommended increased investment in boarding facilities for girls, expansion of scholarship programmes, and stronger enforcement of laws protecting minors from harmful cultural practices. Some counties have begun piloting mentorship programmes and community dialogues to encourage parents to keep girls in school. The Ministry of Education has pledged to strengthen partnerships with county governments and donors to reduce gender gaps, saying the long-term socio-economic impact—including reduced literacy levels, limited job opportunities, and greater vulnerability among women—could undermine Kenya’s broader development goals. Stakeholders argue that without sustained, community-driven reforms, thousands of girls in Kenya’s most disadvantaged regions risk being left behind.