Kenya risks waiting another century to achieve gender equality unless government, institutions and communities act with urgency, leaders warned yesterday at the first edition of NXT Her Summit convened by the Nation Media Foundation.

Thirty years after the Beijing Declaration, they noted, progress remains slow, with entrenched inequalities still denying women and girls equal opportunities.

The two-day meeting brings together gender equality advocates from global, regional and national levels.

It reflects on the progress made in implementing the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted unanimously by 189 countries on September 15, 1995, in Beijing, China.

The landmark framework identifies 12 critical areas of concern for women and girls, including poverty, education and training, health, violence against women, armed conflict, economy, power and decision-making, institutional mechanisms for the advancement of women, human rights, media, environment and the rights of the girl-child.

At the current pace, progress remains painfully slow. The World Economic Forum, in its Global Gender Gap Report 2025, projects that it could take 123 years to achieve full gender parity worldwide.

“The reality calls for renewed collaboration, shared responsibility, balanced action and deliberate interventions,” said Geoffrey Odundo, Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Nation Media Group.

Citing UN Women’s review of progress 30 years after Beijing, Mr Odundo expressed concern at the slow progress, worsened by democratic backsliding and a backlash against gender equality.

“For instance, while the proportion of women in Parliament has more than doubled since 1995, nearly three-quarters of parliamentary seats are still held by men,” he said.

Mr Odundo, a recognised HeForShe champion, reaffirmed NMG’s commitment to amplify women’s voices and influence gender-responsive policies through impactful storytelling.

“We have trained our journalists in gender-sensitive reporting to ensure stories reflect both men’s and women’s perspectives and capture the nuances of women’s experiences. Since creating a dedicated Gender Desk in 2019, we have published more than 5,000 gender-based stories,” he said.

Prof Maria Nzomo, Executive Director of the Transformative Leadership Centre, urged leaders to go beyond speeches and commit to concrete change.

“The time for lamentations is over,” said Prof Nzomo, who in 1981 became the first Kenyan woman to earn a PhD in political science. “For the next 30 years, we must be defined not by speeches but by the choices we make when the microphones are turned off.”

Despite global and national commitments to advance women’s rights, she lamented that many communities still subject women and girls to harmful practices.

“Too many women still die. Too many girls continue to suffer harmful practices. The next task is to adopt universal gender-responsive policies that protect women’s rights, prioritise maternal health, and ensure no woman’s life or well-being is sacrificed,” she said.

Dr Samukeliso Dube, Executive Director of Family Planning 2030 (FP2030), highlighted how access to contraception has contributed to women’s empowerment in Kenya.

“The country’s progress is linked to access to contraception, which has led to a more than 10 per cent rise in paid work and a 14 per cent increase in women’s control over their wages,” she said.

Globally, she added, closing the gender gap by ensuring equitable access to contraception could raise Gross Domestic Product by 20 per cent.

“But now there is need for action. And what is that action? It is about infrastructure, education, and all the benefits that come from a well-planned family. That is how we accelerate society,” Dr Dube said.

By Moraa Obiria