A recent report by the World Bank Kenya has revealed that only 3 per cent of women aged between 15-49 in Kenya can own assets independently while the remaining 97 per cent must depend on someone else.
According to the report dated Tuesday, December 10, 4.5 per cent of women own houses independently compared to 37.4 per cent of men while only 3.1 per cent of women own agricultural land independently compared to 24.3 per cent of men.
The report further reveals that 21.9 per cent of women own and use bank accounts independently compared to 32 per cent of men. 77.5 per cent of women own mobile phones compared to 80.4 per cent of men.
According to the report, young women are more likely than men to be neither in education, employment nor training (NEET).
Women aged between 19 years and 25 years are four times more likely than men to be NEET. Of these women, those in the Arid and Semi-Arid counties exhibit significantly higher NEET rates, 44.1 per cent, than those in non-ASAL counties at 34.3 per cent.
According to the report, more women are not being paid for their work. 17 per cent of women reported not being paid for their work against 9 per cent of men.
Apart from owning assets independently, most women also don't make decisions independently. 34 per cent of women report lacking participation in decisions regarding their own health care, major household purchases, and family visits.
35 per cent of currently married women report being unable to independently make decisions about sexual relations, contraceptive use, and reproductive health care.
Women bear a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic and care work. More women are entering into marriages and parenthood which amplifies the gender gap in NEET. Early marriage and parenthood have a profound impact on women’s economic empowerment, driving the gender gap in economic participation and earnings.
Women often take on family responsibilities earlier than men. In 2022, around 31 per cent of girls aged 19 were already married or had children. Women marry earlier than men, while teenage pregnancies remain widespread suppressing any chances of women to make economic milestones.
According to the World Bank, the statistics reflect deeper inequalities, undermining women's economic autonomy and potential. The World Bank has called for lasting changes for a comprehensive, multisectoral approach across the entire life cycle, building on existing progress.
