Nine extraordinary women assess Kenya's 30-year struggle to fulfil the Beijing promise

As Kenya marks three decades since the historic Beijing Platform for Action, eight formidable female titans reveal the triumphs and battles in the nation's revolutionary journey towards gender equality. Their voices—commanding boardrooms, transforming legal landscapes, and shattering glass ceilings across healthcare and advocacy—deliver a raw, unfiltered verdict on what's been conquered and the mountains still left to climb.

Caroline Ndung’u

“I would like to begin by thanking the trailblazers who came before us, whose dedication and advocacy paved the way for the progress we see today. We stand on the shoulders of remarkable leaders like Zipporah Kittony and Dr Julia Ojiambo, whose unwavering commitment to gender equality has shaped Kenya’s journey. Since 1995, Kenya has made significant strides in education, legal reforms, political representation, and economic empowerment.

“The 2010 Constitution has played a key role not only in advancing women's leadership but also in strengthening their economic participation, securing property and inheritance rights, and shifting cultural norms towards greater inclusivity and equity. However, challenges such as gender-based violence, wage disparities, and cultural barriers persist. While progress has been made, stronger enforcement and sustained commitment are essential to fully achieving gender equality across all sectors.”

Caroline is an experienced business professional who is driven to deliver sustainable business performance while nurturing lasting and mutually beneficial stakeholder relationships. With an impressive career spanning over 20 years, Caroline has held several marketing, corporate relations, and business advisory roles in leading FMCG and financial institutions.

Milka Wahu

“Since adoption of the Beijing platform of action in 1995, Kenya ‘has made impressive progress towards reducing gender inequalities through affirmative action policies and actions. However, harmful gender norms embedded in social and legal structures continue to limit women participation in decision making spaces and access to resources such as land and business capital. GBV against women and girls has also increased.”

Milka is a human rights attorney with over 15 years in social justice and a lecturer at JKUAT School of Law. As a PhD fellow at the University of Bayreuth's BIGSAS program in Germany, she serves on various institutional and community leadership boards. As founder and executive director of Amka Africa Justice Initiative, she builds partnerships between university legal clinics and grassroots organisations to promote access to justice for marginalised communities in Kenya. Her work focuses on women with disabilities, intersex persons, child labourers, and survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery. Through Amka Africa, she mobilises students and young lawyers for policy advocacy, public interest litigation, and free legal services, cultivating a generation of legal professionals committed to addressing global justice gaps.

Gwen Kinisu

"Since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995, Kenya has made commendable progress in gender equality, particularly in leadership representation and economic empowerment."

Gwen Kinisu is a dynamic leader with 15 years in insurance and banking, currently serving as CEO and managing Director of Prudential Kenya. She combines strategic vision, marketing expertise, and relationship-building to drive innovation and growth. With an Executive MBA from USIU and experience at Sanlam, National Bank Kenya Insurance Agency, and Old Mutual, Gwen has developed comprehensive industry knowledge. Though naturally introverted, she harnesses quiet reflection for bold decisions while building meaningful connections with stakeholders.

Beyond her corporate role, Gwen volunteers as a non-profit board member and dedicates time to mentoring. She maintains balance through family time, physical activity, and continuous learning via books and podcasts. What distinguishes Gwen is her unique blend of people-centered leadership, strategic acumen, genuine warmth, and determination. She's not just growing businesses—she's creating a better future by developing empowered teams and meaningful relationships.

Annah Katuki

“Kenya has made notable leaps in gender equality since the adoption of the Beijing Platform for Action in 1995, including progressive legal and policy reforms such as the two-thirds gender rule, advancements in girls’ education and increased representation of women in leadership. However, persistent barriers such as gender-based violence, limited economic opportunities for women, and deep-rooted social norms continue to hinder full gender parity, necessitating more deliberate action and accountability across all sectors.”

Annah is the Gender and Inclusion Advisor at Plan International Kenya with extensive experience shaping national and regional policies on gender equality, women’s rights and social inclusion. She has been instrumental in advancing gender mainstreaming in Kenya and Africa, working with government agencies, civil society and international organisations to influence policy, strengthen institutional capacity and drive systemic change. She has led ground-breaking initiatives to enhance women’s leadership, economic empowerment and protection from gender-based violence, ensuring that gender equality remains at the core of national development efforts. Her expertise spans gender mainstreaming, strategic advocacy and capacity-building, making her a key voice in Kenya’s gender equality movement.

Dr Rizwana Peerbhoy

“Since the 1995 Beijing Platform, Kenya has improved gender equality with policies like the 2010 Constitution and increased female participation in leadership. Yet, barriers like cultural norms and economic disparities still hinder complete gender parity.”

Dr Rizwana is the General Manager of Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital, combining her PhD, CISA credentials, and over 25 years of leadership experience across healthcare, aviation, and industrial sectors. Her expertise spans strategic leadership, policy development, advocacy, healthcare quality improvement, and executive oversight. A recognised innovator in healthcare management, she has successfully transformed Lions SightFirst Eye Hospital's operations and reputation while advocating improved healthcare accessibility for underserved communities. Her approach integrates global perspective with local impact, enabling effective collaboration with diverse, intercultural teams.

She is an invited speaker on business process re-engineering for healthcare institutions and has received numerous international accolades, including the Melvin Jones Fellowship and International President's Global Leadership Award for her humanitarian service and healthcare management contributions. Her leadership continues to inspire excellence in service delivery and innovative community-focused healthcare solutions.

Jane Ng’ang’a

“Kenya has advanced gender equality significantly since 1995, with the 2010 Constitution establishing strong women's rights protections. The two-thirds gender rule has increased female representation in government. NCBA demonstrates commitment through its 50/50 gender balance, inclusive culture, mentorship programs, and flexible work policies. The bank empowers women entrepreneurs with tailored financial solutions and ensures 30 percent of its suppliers are female-led businesses.

“Despite progress, full gender equality requires ongoing collaboration between the private sector, government, and civil society. Together, these efforts create the foundation for an inclusive, equitable future where all Kenyans can participate and thrive.”

Jane is a seasoned career banker with over 30 years of comprehensive experience in Retail Banking. She currently serves as Deputy Director, Head of Branch Business at NCBA Bank, leading a team of over 700 people. Previously, she was Regional General Manager for the Central and Western Region, following leadership roles at Barclays Bank and National Bank of Kenya. She holds an Executive Master's in Business Administration from Kenyatta University and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, complemented by Banking and Advanced Sales and Marketing diplomas. She is an ABMA member with certifications in Harvard mentoring and coaching, women in leadership, advanced negotiation skills, and performance management. A registered member of Women on Board Network, Jane serves on two organisational boards. She is also active in the Kenya Association of Women Business Owners and contributes to the bank's risk and credit management committee.

Jackline Migide

“Since adopting the Beijing Declaration, Kenya has made strides in gender equality. However, policy enforcement gaps, cultural barriers, and high rates of gender-based violence hinder progress. Achieving true gender equality requires enforcing laws, boosting women’s leadership representation, and investing in initiatives that empower women and girls.”

Jackline is a Gender Specialist with extensive experience in advocacy, project management, and stakeholder engagement in the gender and social services sectors. As the Gender Justice and Women's Rights Lead at Oxfam Kenya, she provides strategic leadership on gender justice initiatives. Previously, she served as Technical Lead at the Council of Governors, strengthening gender programs and institutional frameworks. Jackline holds a Master’s in Gender and Development Studies and is committed to advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Kenya.

Chelimo Njoroge

“Kenya’s 2010 Constitution enshrined gender equality, yet women’s political representation stagnates at 23 percent. To bridge the gap between legal rights and lived equality, enforcing the two-thirds rule, strengthening GBV protections, and expanding economic and educational access are urgent. Rights on paper mean little without action and cultural transformation.”

Chelimo is a visionary gender equality advocate and Program Development leader at ForumCiv, spearheading transformative initiatives to advance women’s rights. With 12+ years of expertise, she designs gender-responsive policies, combats systemic barriers to women’s economic inclusion, and integrates anti-GBV frameworks into grassroots programming. She passionately champions breastfeeding rights, advocating lactation-friendly workplaces and education of lactating mums on everything related to breast milk. Holding a Master’s in Sociology and balancing motherhood to her two children, she embodies the intersection of policy and lived experience, declaring: “Empowering women means valuing their full humanity—from boardrooms to breastfeeding.” A relentless voice for equity, she bridges advocacy and action to ensure dignity for all.

Judy Waruiru

“We have made progress, considering the number of women who occupy leadership positions in our companies. It is also encouraging to see the number of women who work in technology fields, even guided by our own dynamics at Network where we have 50 percent women in the executive.”

Judy is the Regional Managing Director for Acquiring at Network International in Eastern Africa, driving growth and market expansion across the region from her base in Nairobi. With over 20 years of experience, she has successfully managed and identified growth opportunities across diverse markets in Africa and beyond. Her expertise spans fintech, airlines, start-ups, media, and technology. She has a proven track record in setting and executing strategic initiatives across Africa, where she has trained, inspired, and influenced teams to achieve key business objectives.

Previously, she managed operations across 19 African countries for Network, where she was responsible for driving operational excellence. She streamlined complex business processes, leveraged technology to enhance efficiency, and implemented effective strategies to deliver a best-in-class customer experience.