Rethinking Gender Equality: Listening to the voices closest to the problem

In many rural areas across Kenya, traditions and cultural norms continue to define what men and women can or cannot do, leaving little room for conversations about balance and shared opportunities.

While Kenya’s Constitution and Vision 2030 name gender equality as a key pillar of national development, translating these commitments into everyday reality remains a challenge.

Particularly in places where cultural and religious beliefs are deeply entrenched.

Here, women are often expected to focus on the home, while leadership, economic power, and decision-making stay largely in the hands of men.

These expectations are more than customs; they shape how communities function, influencing access to education, employment, and political participation.

Even so, change is taking root.

From local leaders to grassroots groups, people within these same communities are showing that gender equity is not a threat to tradition but a shared responsibility.

One that can strengthen families, grow economies, and build more inclusive societies for everyone.

From Tradition to Transformation: A Champion’s Awakening

Simon Ole Kiraison knows this reality well.

Growing up in Narok East, where Maasai traditions emphasize male authority, he never questioned the idea that men led and women followed.

It wasn’t until he travelled abroad that he began to see things differently.

“I grew up believing that men were supposed to lead, and women had to follow,” he recalls.

But when he travelled for four years outside the country to further his studies, he saw a different reality.

Women were leading men, running businesses, and sitting at the table with men in leadership positions.

“I realized how limited our thinking was,” he said.

His time in the United States exposed him to a world where gender roles were not as rigidly defined.

“I saw firsthand how communities thrive when both men and women are allowed to contribute equally,” he said.

When he returned home, he began advocating for women’s participation in leadership and business, and overall, helping them access opportunities to improve their lives.

His involvement revolves around efforts to stop harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM), promote economic empowerment, and encourage men’s participation in gender equality.

“Women, especially those who are illiterate, need empowerment. And once empowered, you realize they are more beneficial to the household, too,” Simon notes.

Through entrepreneurship initiatives and learning about their rights, many women in their community have started taking on local leadership roles and are involved in economic activities to sustain their families.

Simon’s wife is one such example.

“My wife sits as one of the board members on the Community Development Fund (CDF). And whenever I see her helping out, even in our business and contributing to the family’s decisions, I feel very proud,” he says.

This, he adds, has encouraged other women to be bold and pursue opportunities.

“Whenever they see one of their own in a position they never imagined possible, they feel encouraged to do the same.”

His consistent dedication to uplifting women in his community did not go unnoticed.

His efforts earned him ForumCiv’s Community Champion Award during the 2025 International Women’s Day celebrations, an honour that recognized his grassroots advocacy in advancing human rights and gender justice.

Voices from the Coast: Reimagining Womanhood and Leadership

Far from Narok, in the coastal county of Kwale, Hilda Dena faces similar hurdles but is shaped by different influences.

As Advocacy and Program Lead at Ongoza Dada, she leads gender justice initiatives in communities where religious and cultural expectations still confine women to traditional caregiving roles.

“I think that religious beliefs are followed diligently, and they often influence how we see women’s roles,” she explains.

“In many parts of the coast, women have been confined to the home. They’re seen as caregivers, not leaders, due to such beliefs.”

Dena facilitates leadership training, mentorship programs, and advocacy partnerships for young women pushing for systemic change rather than symbolic gestures.

Gender Equality: What Does Feminism Have to Do with It?

While gender equality is the goal, feminism is one of the strongest movements driving it forward.

At its core, feminism simply calls for women to have the same rights, opportunities, and respect as men.

Yet, despite this shared destination, Dena admits the term often sparks defensiveness, especially among men, because of how it has been misunderstood and misrepresented over time.

Many interpret it as women being anti-men or rooted in anger, rather than being about fairness and justice.

“Many think feminism is just a group of angry women blaming men, but that’s not the reality,” says Hilda.

” Feminism is about ensuring equal opportunities and dismantling barriers. When we want male allies, it’s important to make clear what fighting for women’s rights means.”

Hilda shares that she had to unlearn common misconceptions and relearn the true meaning of feminism before engaging in gender advocacy effectively.

This confusion can discourage men from joining the cause, making them feel accused instead of invited into the conversation.

Challenges on the Path to Gender Equality

But beyond the misconceptions about feminism, other deeply rooted challenges stand in the way.

Cultural and religious beliefs often pose significant barriers.

In Kilifi, Dena observes that religious teachings and traditional practices are frequently used to justify excluding women from leadership or business roles.

“Some families use religion to keep women out of the public space,” she says.

“It’s a delicate balance advocating for women while respecting faith and cultural identity.”

Simon Ole Kiraison echoes these concerns, noting that suspicion often meets his efforts.

“Many people believe I have ulterior motives with what I do because, to them, it’s not that easy to abandon what once rooted something one has believed in and practised for the longest time.”

Simon believes change requires patience and tact.

“Force doesn’t always work. People need to experience the benefits of gender equality through exposure and education,” he says.

Dialogue, not confrontation, remains his preferred tool for reshaping attitudes.

Both Kiraison and Dena agree that the future of gender equity hinges on collective responsibility.

By championing women’s rights not as a special interest but as a shared foundation for community development, they are steadily reshaping patriarchal narratives one conversation at a time.

Yet the tide is slowly turning.

Apart from Simon’s and Denas’ efforts, Campaigns like HeForShe are opening up space for men to stand alongside women, promoting gender equality as a collective responsibility.

This shift is being reinforced by organisations that go beyond rhetoric, actively engaging men and boys as part of the solution.

Shifting Systems: Gender Equality as Shared Responsibilities

In East Africa, Ujamaa-Africa is leading a transformative approach through school-based and community programs that focus on adolescent boys.

Their flagship initiative, the Your Moment of Truth curriculum, uses relatable storytelling, peer dialogue, and behavioural modelling to challenge patriarchal norms, toxic masculinity, and gender-based violence.

Boys are taught about consent, empathy, and the value of equitable relationships, starting a cultural shift from the ground up.

Evaluations of the program have shown a measurable decrease in harmful attitudes and behaviours among participating boys, as well as increased support for gender equality.

Amref Health Africa, on the other hand, integrates male involvement into its broader community health strategies.

Understanding that women’s health and empowerment cannot thrive in isolation, Amref trains male champions and peer educators within communities to support reproductive health rights, maternal care, and girls’ education.

These male allies facilitate dialogues in barazas (community meetings), mentor young men, and advocate for the dismantling of harmful practices such as female genital mutilation (FGM) and early marriage.

In areas like Kajiado and Samburu, these programs have not only improved women’s access to health services but also begun to reshape local power dynamics in favour of inclusion and respect.

These inclusive approaches targeting mindset, culture, and systems are proving that gender equity requires more than policy.

It requires changing hearts and habits, one community at a time.

Anchoring Local Action in Global Momentum

While grassroots efforts are essential, they are not isolated.

Global advocates continue to call for deep structural reform across education, economics, and politics.

At the UN Commission on the Status of Women in March 2025, UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning on the state of gender equity, noting that “centuries of patriarchy, discrimination and harmful stereotypes have created a huge gender gap in science and technology.”

He went on to state:

“We cannot stand by as progress is reversed. We must fight back. Gender equality is not just about fairness; it is about justice. It is about power: who gets a seat at the table, and who is locked out. It is about dismantling systems that allow inequalities to fester.”

His remarks echo what many have long argued: true equality is not charity or benevolence, it is systemic justice.

Beyond Tokenism: Building an Equitable Future Together

For Hilda, dismantling individual bias isn’t enough.

“It’s not enough to say we support women, we have to prove it through inclusion, power-sharing, and consistent investment.”

State and non-state actors have made visible progress. But in areas where harmful traditions remain strong, the gains are fragile and resistance remains high.

Advocates stress the importance of engaging not just women but also men, elders, youth, and religious leaders to build lasting alliances.

As Kenya continues its journey toward equity, one message is clear:
Gender equality is not a woman’s issue-it’s everyone’s responsibility.

And in every village, county, and household where someone questions outdated norms, challenges bias, and uplifts others, a more inclusive future quietly begins to take root.