Five years to 2030: Why you should worry about setbacks hurting women and girls

As the world heads into the final stretch toward the Sustainable Development Goal 5 target of gender equality in 2030, recent analysis shows that progress is stalling — and Kenya’s women and girls are feeling the strain. Globally, current trends suggest it will take more than a century to close the gender gap — a reality that threatens to undermine gains made in education, economic participation and health.
In Kenya, rising poverty among women, limited access to reproductive health services and persisting discrimination mean that the road to equality is fraught with fresh obstacles.
Over the past few years, Kenyan women have faced a convergence of pressures: economic instability, the burden of unpaid care work, higher risk of exclusion from formal employment, and scarce resources for sexual and reproductive health.
These developments come even as the government and civil society work to uphold constitutional commitments and implement gender-sensitive policies. But the breakdown or slowing of some systems — including delays in service delivery, shrinking public financing, and cultural barriers — have eroded momentum. The report suggests that unless the pace picks up, many women may remain trapped by structural disadvantages by 2030.
The implications are profound: when women cannot fully participate in the economy or access essential health services, the entire country loses out on productivity, innovation and social cohesion. Advocates in Kenya are raising the alarm, urging stronger budget allocations, better enforcement of laws and greater inclusion of women and girls in all sectors. If action is taken now, the next five years can become a tipping point. But without bold steps, the gains of previous decades may unravel.
Looking ahead, Kenya has a window of opportunity. Harnessing this moment will require focused efforts: scaling up gender-responsive budgeting, strengthening sexual and reproductive health policies, investing in women’s economic empowerment, and ensuring girls stay in school. Monitoring and accountability must also be sharpened — otherwise the promise of 2030 may remain out of reach for far too many Kenyan women and girls.