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This study aimed to investigate the progress of women's empowerment through employment opportunities in Nairobi and Kakamega Counties in Kenya between 2013 and 2017. Despite the increasing policies that aim to mainstream social equity and equality, there is still a significant gap between policy commitments and practices. The study evaluated whether the implementation of devolved governance in the two counties has improved women's empowerment. The study's framework included an in-depth review of policy documents, official records, and reports from official websites to understand women's economic empowerment status in Nairobi and Kakamega. The study analyzed qualitative and quantitative data from County Integrated Development Plans and other secondary sources. Specifically, it examined compliance with the 30% gender rule, requiring women to hold at least 30% of all elective and appointive positions. The study found that Nairobi commands the largest share of formal sector wage employment in Kenya, and women's access to employment opportunities remains slightly lower than men in both counties. Despite implementing the 30% gender rule, the study revealed the need for more comprehensive policies that promote gender equality and women's economic empowerment in both Nairobi and Kakamega.

The desire for responsibly managed private forests through certification is steadily growing around the globe. However, there is limited information on citizens’ willingness to accept or pay for private forest management certification in the process of sustainable development. This study used literature review and online survey questionnaires administered in a workshop set up targeting those with and without private forests to address this question. Results from Kenya substantiate that private forestry can contribute to sustainable socio-economic development and as such the sector is steadily growing. To augment this growth, the country has developed supportive policies and legislation for forest certification which provide opportunities for the participation of a wide range of stakeholders. Already, some Private Sector Enterprises have received Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Chain of Custody (CoC) certification mostly in the packaging industry. In addition, an interim FSC standard was launched by the government of Kenya in the year 2022. Various state agencies are already conducting piloting and field testing of certification. Kenya Forest Service (KFS) is conducting field testing of the FSC Interim Standard within public forests. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has certified over 250 nurseries across the country. Kenya Forestry Research Institute has developed the Tree Nursery Certification Protocol, 2021 as a practical guide for tree nursery certifiers. This unwavering government support for forest certification may have contributed to the high level of willingness to pay or accept private forest certification among the study respondents who were already consuming certified products. However, certification faces a number of challenges, including; lack of regulations for operationalizing the private forest development incentives outlined in the Forest Conservation and Management Act, 2016 and lack of county forestry programmes. Thus, this study recommends the need for increased education and awareness on private forest management certification and conducting more studies on the type and market share of certified products from private forest that are consumed in the country and the speedy formulation of regulations for operationalizing incentives for private forestry development., Visions for Sustainability, No 18 (2022) - More Visions online

This study explores ways of improving household waste collection in urban areas through a door-to-door waste collection system in Ruaka town, Kenya, by comparing the collection practices between households served by door-to-door waste collection and those without it. Literature review, random sampling technique with semi-structured questionnaires, and direct observation were used. The case results confirm that door-to-door solid waste collection at households has the capacity to induce positive behavioural changes towards sustainability at waste generation points. Waste separation and recycling, which accompanies this system, can help improve revenue streams in the waste management value chain, which may help to plug the waste financing gap facing many governments. However, the study notes that in Ruaka town, the current practice of door-to-door waste collection is unsustainable and could reinforce inequality amongst users seeking to access waste collection facilities. Apart from more household surveys to document the correlation between individual household demographic attributes and effectiveness of door-to-door waste collection, the study calls for developing robust regulations for door-to-door service, increased citizen participation in waste management matters, including the need for waste separation at the source to measure the system���s maximum impact., Visions for Sustainability, No 17 (2022) - More Visions Online