The implementation of gender quotas in Kenya : lessons for Senegal

Abstract

In 2010, Senegal adopted the 50/50 gender quota law in their gender parity law. In a similar way, Kenya adopted the 2010 constitution that provided that not more than 2/3 of any government body shall be of the same gender. A close look at the two states show that Senegal has successfully implemented the gender law leading to a 47% of women in parliament becoming the second highest representation if women in Africa after Rwanda. Kenya has struggled with the implementation of the gender rule recording a 23.5 representation in the just concluded 2022 general elections. This discrepancy has led to the research concept where this study seeks to borrow lessons from Senegal that Kenya can use to improve its women representation efforts. Before getting to the lessons, we must first understand the existing gender laws on quotas and parities. Therefore, my first research question is What are the gender quotas in Kenya and Senegal? It has been argued that some systems favor gender quota implementation compared to other leading to my second research question’ what are the electoral systems in Kenya and Senegal? Finally, this study looks into the actual lessons Kenya can draw from Senegal. All these answers are achieved through desktop research of existing data and research. My findings show that the key lessons Kenya should draw from Senegal are based on the actors that have made the implementation of gender quotas possible. These include NGOs, the presidency, the International Community, the judiciary, and religious leaders. Moreover, this study recognizes that lessons can be learned through both the success and failures and examines the challenges Senegal has faced in the journey. This helps Kenya to not fall in the same trap. Finally, Senegal has still not achieved a 50/50 representation of both men and women. Therefore, the study looks at gaps that have been left in the fight and the opportunities that Kenya can tap into and achieve better women in parliament representation. This thesis presents the timely recount of the status of gender quotas in two states that implemented gender quotas in the same year and have just concluded elections in 2022 recording different stats of women in politics.