South Eastern Kenya University (SEKU) has emerged seventh nationally among 86 listed Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in gender mainstreaming performance, attaining an average score of 92.5 per cent in the 2025/2026 Financial Year. SEKU becomes one of the top performing MDAs that were evaluated by State Department for Gender Affairs and Affirmative Action. This was done through the evaluation of biannual reports from institutions that took part in the evaluation process in the financial year.
The institution's performance is as a result of scoring 94.8 per cent in the first biannual evaluation period and 90.2 per cent in the second, making an average of 92.5 per cent. It emerges as one of the best institutions in the national assessment. Gender mainstreaming is the process of considering the gender perspective while making policies, planning, programme implementation and decision-making processes. The whole idea of gender mainstreaming is to ensure that both genders are taken into consideration in any of the institutional programs and policies.
This is especially pertinent when it comes to the establishment of equal opportunities for members of the institution in academic, administrative and leadership positions. This is because it also facilitates the development of mechanisms aimed at addressing obstacles to the full involvement and advancement of individuals within the university community.
The national assessment serves as a measure of determining the degree to which public universities incorporate gender sensitive procedures in their operations. By comparing institutional performance in two assessment periods through their reports, the assessment serves as a basis for measurement and areas in need of improvement.
The seventh position of SEKU is truly a very important landmark for the university and has been taken with great pride by the university community. This success shows that the university is committed to incorporating the issue of gender equality within its policies, programs and activities, but at the same time confirms its status as one of the most prominent institutions in the country practicing gender mainstreaming. This success also underscores the importance of gender mainstreaming in improving the effectiveness of the institution, providing equal opportunities and improving accountability in the public sector. SEKU's success is a good example of what positive results may be achieved through the adoption of a gender approach. Having achieved such a success, the university is likely to remain capable of further improving its situation in this field.
