On International Equal Pay Day, Nguvu Change Leaders spotlight Kenya’s gender pay gap
They also seek measures to overcome unequal opportunities in STEM, improved educational resources, and fair compensation for teachers and nurses to tackle systemic pay disparities.
The 2024 Global Gender Gap Index by the World Economic Forum reveals that, while no country has achieved full gender parity, 97% of the 146 economies included have closed more than 60% of their gap. Iceland, with 93.5% parity, ranks first, and European countries occupy seven of the top ten spots. Though many African countries are striving to close the gender gap, data reveals that economies like Kenya still have a significant disparity, with women earning less than men in both hourly and monthly wages. Kenya ranks 75th in the Index. According to a UN Women report, women in Kenya earn 17.7 percent less per hour and 31.3 percent less per month than men.
On International Equal Pay Day (September 18), Nguvu Change Leaders Mercy Mwende, Deborah Monari and Synthia Asienwa highlight some key measures policymakers should adopt to address the basic challenges contributing to the gender pay gap in Kenya.
In an online petition, Mercy highlights the underrepresentation of Kenyan women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths (STEM) fields, which include many high-paying jobs. She points out that women face constant pressure and resistance in fields like automotive engineering, which are wrongly perceived as male-dominated. “Women who aspire to pursue these careers, which offer more equitable pay, are often hindered by these misconceptions. There are also inadequate skill training opportunities, such as internships, as women are frequently denied these opportunities due to their gender. That is why I have launched a petition urging Toyota Kenya, the Public Service Commission, and Isuzu Kenya to increase internship and employment opportunities for women in automotive engineering by 30 per cent,” adds Mercy.
Meanwhile, Synthia Asienwa, another Nguvu Change Leader, believes that alongside the right to equal pay, every citizen must have access to education, which is a fundamental right, regardless of their financial situation.
“When discussing equal pay, we must also consider advocating for the provision of adequate teaching and learning materials in Junior Secondary Schools in Kenya. In Nairobi, the pupil-teacher ratio in primary school is 50:1 which is higher than the national ratio of 40:1 and higher than Kenya’s recommended ratio. The quality of education is directly linked to the remuneration and working conditions of teachers, therefore, the government must ensure that teachers are fairly compensated and that classrooms are adequately staffed. By enhancing educational resources and ensuring fair teacher compensation, the groundwork will be laid for gender equality in future employment opportunities,” says Synthia.
She has already filed a petition, ‘Provide Enough Teaching and Learning Materials in Junior Secondary Schools in Kenya’, urging the President of Kenya, William Ruto to fulfill his promises to increase funding, employ more teachers, and develop school infrastructure..
On the other hand, Deborah Monari, a nurse by profession and health & gender rights advocate, brings attention to the employment challenges faced by nurses in Kenya. Nurses are often overworked due to chronic understaffing and are not adequately compensated for the critical roles they play in the healthcare system. Deborah has been advocating for better work environments for nurses, including hiring more staff to reduce burnout and introducing government-funded scholarships for advanced nursing education.
“Addressing the employment burdens nurses face is crucial to ensuring fair pay and enhancing the overall quality of healthcare delivery. This will help resolve the gender pay gap, as nursing is a female-dominated field, and ensuring nurses are not only fairly paid but also supported in their professional growth is essential for equality,” says Deborah.
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