Women at the heart of Kenya’s peace and security agenda
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Kenya validated its Third National Action Plan (KNAP III) to deepen women’s role in peace and security in July 2025. This third version of the country’s strategy to advance the global Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) agenda, follows the progress of KNAP II 2020-2024 and aims to consolidate the voices and priorities of women in all aspects of conflict prevention, peace, and security decisions across the country.
The plan was designed collaboratively by the Ministry for Gender and Affirmative Action and taken forward in collaboration with UN Women, with directions from the National Steering Committee, a multi-stakeholder body made up of government ministries, civil society organizations, development partners, and security agencies.
Representatives from civil society, international agencies, grassroots movements, faith-based organizations and key government departments such as the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services, Ministry of Interior and National Coordination, National Gender Equality Commission, National Security Council and National Police Service were in attendance.
These institutions will lead the process of operationalizing the plan with policies, programmes, and security reforms that are reflective of the priorities and protection needs of women.
KNAP III aims to improve women’s integration in local and national peace processes, increase the involvement of women in early warning systems and mediation processes, and increase the representation of women within security institutions more broadly. It also underscores the importance of actively involving women in the recovery stage of conflict, from reconciliation to reintegration.
Moreover, it reiterates the need to address gender-based violence (GBV) in all its forms, including new forms, such as technology-facilitated GBV. With an emphasis on strengthening legislation, services for survivors, and prevention measures, KNAP III addresses critical gaps that have remained within Kenya’s approach to GBV, while enhancing accountability within institutions.
The plan is also consistent with Kenya’s Vision 2030 as well as the Sustainable Development Goals, integrating peace and security work into a broader plan of social and economic change. This cross-sectoral definition builds the overall understanding that peace is much more than the absence of conflict but the presence of justice, equality, and inclusiveness in governance.
The validation of KNAP III provides Kenya with a renewed blueprint for building a more inclusive and peaceful society. The ultimate test of its success will be the degree to which women are not just part of the conversation but empowered to shape a national security and peacebuilding agenda.