The State Department for Gender (SDG) was established in November 2015 following a re-organization of government Ministries. It is one of the two State Departments in the Ministry of Public Service and Gender, the other being the State Department for Public Service. The State Department was created from the former Ministry of Devolution and Planning to promote gender mainstreaming in national development processes and champion for the socio-economic empowerment of women.

Previously, gender issues were handled under a division in the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Development; and as a directorate under the Ministry of Devolution and Planning. The Department derives its mandate from the Constitution of Kenya in Articles 10, 27,60, 61, 81 and 100 among others and the Executive Order No. 1 of 2018.  Article 10 outlines the national values and principles of governance which include equality, equity, inclusiveness and non-discrimination which provide anchorage for gender equality; and Article 27 ingrains the right to equality and freedom from discrimination.

The mandate of the State Department for Gender Affairs as provided in Executive Order No. 1/2018 include:

Gender Policy Management

• Special Programmes for Women Empowerment
• Gender Mainstreaming in Ministries/ Departments/Agencies
• Community Mobilization
• Domestication of International Treaties/Conventions on Gender
• Policy and Programmes on Gender Based Violence (GBV)

The functions of the State Department for Gender (SDG) are currently being executed through four technical directorates, County Gender Offices, Gender Focal Points and Administration.

The Gender Function entails:

1. Developing, reviewing, interpreting, implementation and monitoring of gender policies, programmes and plans;
2. Designing and facilitating programmes/projects that promote gender equality;
3. Coordination of gender mainstreaming into the national development agenda;
4. Institutionalization of gender mainstreaming in Ministries/Departments, Counties and Agencies (MDCAs);
5. Promotion of gender socio-economic empowerment;
6. Sensitization of stakeholders on gender related issues;
7. Monitoring the implementation of gender related funds;
8. Undertaking research on gender issues;
9. Management of the Gender Research and Documentation Centre;
10. Monitoring prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) and Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV);
11. Coordination of programmes for elimination of incidences of FGM and SGBV;
12. Development and maintenance of gender disaggregated data and management information systems;
13. Promotion of partnership with stakeholders on gender related matters;
14. Monitoring and validating impact of gender programmes and projects;
15. Negotiation, domestication and reporting on gender related international and regional treaties, protocols and conventions; and,
16. Community mobilization on gender issues.

Ministry Of Public Service And Gender - Kenya