A new education report has raised concern over persistent gender inequities in Kenya’s arid, semi-arid and informal settlement regions, warning that thousands of girls remain at risk of being left behind despite national gains in school enrolment. According to the findings, released this week by a consortium of local education NGOs, gender-based barriers such as early marriage, unsafe learning environments, poverty, and cultural norms continue to undermine girls’ access to education in counties including Turkana, Mandera, Garissa, Marsabit and parts of Nairobi’s informal settlements. Researchers say that while national transition rates have improved, the progress masks deep pockets of exclusion where girls are still far less likely to complete primary or progress to secondary school.
The report shows that economic hardship remains one of the strongest drivers of inequality, with families in drought-hit and pastoralist communities often prioritising boys’ education over girls’. In some of the surveyed counties, girls were found to miss school for extended periods due to household labour, lack of sanitary facilities, and insecurity during long walking distances to school. The situation is further compounded by teacher shortages and inadequate school infrastructure, particularly in remote villages where classrooms are overcrowded and learning materials are limited. Education officers interviewed for the study noted that although government bursaries and feeding programmes have improved attendance, many girls still face intersecting vulnerabilities that require targeted interventions.
Following the release of the report, child rights advocates and education policymakers have called for urgent, coordinated action to address the widening gaps. Stakeholders are pushing for strengthened community outreach to challenge harmful gender norms, investment in safe boarding facilities for girls, and expansion of menstrual hygiene programmes to reduce absenteeism. The Ministry of Education says it is working with partners to scale up measures in high-risk counties, including deploying more female teachers and increasing scholarships for vulnerable learners. As Kenya works toward achieving universal access to quality education, experts warn that ignoring persistent gender disparities could derail national development goals. The report concludes with a call for sustained funding, stronger accountability frameworks and community-led solutions to ensure that every girl—regardless of county or circumstance—has an equal chance to learn and thrive.