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Females extend dominance in adult classes amid campaigns
Adult education graduates from Molo and Kuresoi sub-counties take a selfie during International Literacy Day celebrations in Elburgon, Nakuru County, on September 9, 2024.
Enrolment in adult education jumped by nearly 19 percent in 2025, fuelled by female learners amid economic and social empowerment campaigns that mainly targeted women.
The newly published Economic Survey 2026 shows that the total enrolment at adult education centres in Kenya increased by 18.8 percent to 165,552 learners in 2025.
There were 101,396 females enrolled in the adult education programmes last year, representing 61.2 percent of the total, compared to 64,156 men.
This reflects a push to reverse inequalities against females by giving them basic literacy skills, such as business and financial management.
Nairobi recorded the highest enrolment with 34,506 learners in 2025, up from 13,194 the previous year. Women accounted for 18,562 of the learners in the capital.
“The enrolment of adult education learners in Nairobi City County increased to 34,506 due to urban tech-driven access and aggressive mobilisation,” the Economic Survey 2026 said. Nakuru registered 10,600 learners and Turkana 11,523, highlighting growth in both urban and marginalised regions.
The data also points to disparities at county level. Narok recorded the steepest decline, with enrolment dropping from 4,900 in 2024 to 1,639 in 2025, raising concerns over access, staffing, and outreach in some areas.
The rise in female participation is linked to grassroots mobilisation, through women’s savings groups, commonly known as chamas. These entities have increasingly incorporated literacy and numeracy sessions into their regular meetings, providing accessible entry points for women who previously lacked opportunities for formal education.
The Directorate of Adult Learning and Education, under the State Department for Social Protection, has expanded its curriculum to include digital literacy, financial skills, and vocational training. This change has brought adult education into closer alignment with everyday economic activities, particularly for women involved in small-scale enterprises.
Similarly, the rising demand for basic education, including the ability to read, write, and handle transactions, even in informal sectors, has further encouraged adult women to return to education.
Counties with active community educator networks have seen stronger enrolment among women. For example, Kisii had 4,922 learners, of whom 3,319 were women, while Meru and Kitui had 3,940 and 5,624 learners, respectively, with women forming the majority in both counties.
Historical data show that women have consistently outnumbered men in adult education. In 2022, there were 86,862 female learners compared to 51,766 male learners. This trend has continued into 2025, reinforcing the central role of women in the country's adult education recovery.
