Effectiveness of Gender Inclusion Mechanisms in Kenya’s External Trade Policy Development on Kenya Busia Border

Many countries have implemented gender-inclusive mechanisms to develop responsive national trade policies that address gender issues. However, Kenya’s external trade policy is yet to effectively incorporate gender considerations, particularly regarding women, who remain a vulnerable group at both national and regional levels. Women are predominantly concentrated in the informal sector, where they account for 70 to 80 percent of those engaged in petty and informal trading, compared to their male counterparts. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of gender inclusion mechanisms in Kenya’s external trade policy development, specifically along the Kenya-Uganda Busia border. The research was grounded in feminist foreign policy, international trade theories, and a descriptive survey research design. The target population consisted of 558 individuals, from which a sample of 211 respondents was selected using simple random, purposive, census, and stratified sampling techniques. Data was collected through questionnaires, interview schedules, focus group discussions, and content analysis of both primary and secondary sources. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to present data in tables and pie charts. Findings revealed that 59% of respondents identified the executive as the primary actor in trade policy formulation, while women’s underrepresentation in international trade negotiations and the informal sector highlighted gaps in gender-responsive trade policies. The study recommended expanding gender structures, providing capacity support to the informal sector, and increasing women’s representation in political leadership and the formal trade sector to ensure a more inclusive external trade policy. The conclusion underscored that the lack of robust gender-inclusive structures had led to an unresponsive trade policy in Kenya.