A Global Mandate for Inclusion

On Friday, 31 October 2025, the global community will mark the 25th anniversary of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 (UNSCR 1325), a watershed document unanimously adopted in 2000. The resolution was the first to formally recognize the unique and disproportionate impact of armed conflict on women and girls, while simultaneously stressing their underutilized and essential role in conflict prevention, resolution, and peacebuilding. UNSCR 1325 is structured around four foundational pillars: increasing women's participation in decision-making, preventing violence against women, protecting women and girls in conflict, and ensuring their needs are met in relief and recovery efforts.

Kenya's Leadership and National Framework

In the East and Southern Africa region, Kenya has established itself as a leader in domesticating this global mandate. The nation's commitment is formalized through a series of Kenya National Action Plans (KNAPs), policy frameworks designed to translate the resolution's goals into concrete actions. The first KNAP was launched in 2016 under the theme “Kuhusisha Wanawake ni Kudumisha Amani” (“to involve women is to sustain peace”). This was followed by a second plan, and in early November 2025, the government launched its third-generation KNAP, which will guide efforts from 2025 to 2029. These plans are anchored in Kenya's constitutional values of gender equality and inclusion, and aim to integrate the Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda into national security, development, and diplomatic strategies.

These efforts are a response to Kenya's complex security environment, which includes intercommunal violence, political competition, and the rise of violent extremism—all of which disproportionately affect women and girls. UN Women reports that women in these contexts are more likely to face sexual and gender-based violence, restricted access to education and livelihoods, and exclusion from peace processes.

Progress and Persistent Challenges

Kenya has recorded notable progress. The implementation of the first KNAP led to the Ministry of Defence adopting its first-ever gender policy and the appointment of Major General Fatuma Ahmed, the first woman to attain that rank in the Kenya Defence Forces. There has also been a significant increase in the number of women participating in local peace committees, rising from 14% in 2013 to 29% in 2018, according to the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government. Furthermore, Kenya has demonstrated its commitment on the international stage by deploying women to peacekeeping missions, such as the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia and a planned all-women police contingent for the UN-supported mission in Haiti. These deployments are based on growing evidence that female peacekeepers enhance community trust and communication.

However, the journey has been fraught with challenges. A critical weakness identified in the newly launched KNAP III is the persistent reliance on donor funding, which has limited national ownership and hindered the consistent implementation of previous plans. The State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action has not been allocated a dedicated government budget for the KNAP, restricting its oversight and coordination role. This financial precarity raises questions about the long-term sustainability of the WPS agenda in the country. Globally, progress has also been uneven. A 2023 report by the UN Secretary-General noted that women's representation in UN-led peace processes had fallen from 23% in 2020 to just 16% in 2022, highlighting a concerning trend.

The Path Forward for Kenya and the Region

The third National Action Plan (2025-2029) outlines an ambitious agenda to address both existing and emerging threats. It prioritizes the economic empowerment of women through programs like climate-smart agriculture and digital entrepreneurship. Recognizing the digital dimension of modern conflict, the plan also proposes creating digital peace innovation hubs and training digital peace ambassadors to foster safe online spaces for women's civic engagement. The success of these initiatives will depend heavily on the government's ability to secure dedicated domestic funding, as outlined in its proposal to develop a resource mobilization strategy.

As the world reflects on 25 years of UNSCR 1325, Kenya's experience offers a microcosm of the global struggle to turn normative commitments into lived reality. The nation's leadership in the region is undeniable, providing a blueprint for other countries. Yet, its challenges with funding and implementation serve as a critical reminder that without sustained political will and dedicated resources, the transformative potential of the Women, Peace, and Security agenda will remain unfulfilled. The next five years will be crucial in determining whether Kenya can bridge the gap between its ambitious plans and the tangible, secure, and inclusive peace its women deserve.