Kenya Launches Landmark Report on Economic Value of Unpaid Domestic and Care Work

 Kenya has unveiled the Economic Value of Unpaid Domestic and Care Work Report 2025, a groundbreaking study that highlights the significant contribution of unpaid care and domestic work to the country’s economy and its impact on gender equality.

The report, launched in Nairobi by the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage in collaboration with UN Women and the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), quantifies the value of unpaid care work — much of it performed by women — and calls for policies that recognize, reduce, and redistribute this burden.

According to the findings, women in Kenya spend nearly four and a half hours daily on unpaid domestic and care work, compared to about one hour for men. This gender gap, experts say, limits women’s participation in the labour market and hinders overall economic growth.

The study estimates that Kenya loses up to 7 percent of its GDP each year due to the invisibility of unpaid care and domestic work in official statistics. It calls for integrating unpaid work into national accounts, investing in care-support infrastructure such as childcare centres, and implementing the proposed National Care Policy.

Speaking during the launch, Principal Secretary for Gender Affairs emphasized the need to recognize care work as a public good that sustains families, communities, and the economy. “This report gives us evidence to act. Recognizing unpaid care is not only about fairness — it’s about smart economics,” she said.

UN Women Country Representative added that valuing care work is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality. “When care work is acknowledged and supported, women can access education, employment, and leadership opportunities,” she noted.

County governments were urged to adopt gender-responsive budgeting and invest in infrastructure that eases care burdens, such as access to clean water, healthcare, and electricity.

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