An Analysis of the Use of Communication to Promote Participation of Women Working in the Security Sector in Kenya

Effective integration of women’s voices and gender-sensitive communication frameworks in security institutions is critical in ensuring meaningful engagement of women working within this sector. Moderan (2024) advocates for protected dialogue spaces, gender-inclusive language protocols, and equitable access to institutional resources and information channels to ensure women’s meaningful participation in the evolving security landscape. Despite progressive policy frameworks, women serving in security forces continue to encounter substantial obstacles in their professional roles. Research by Ombati (2018) revealed female military personnel in Somalia operations experienced persistent gender discrimination and harassment, undermining their operational effectiveness.This research explores the communication mechanisms and strategies employed by the security sector in their efforts to enhance female employees participation and integration in their overall communication structure and hierarchy. The study has used the Participatory Communication, Securitization and Gender theories. The study adopted a descriptive survey design, which is appropriate for gathering data on the current practices, opinions, and trends related to communication and women’s participation working in the Kenya security sector. The objectives of the study was to find out the current state of communication structures, media channels, messaging strategies, and feedback mechanisms used to promote women’s participation in the Kenya security sector. The study found that existing communication structures within the Kenya security sector are generally perceived negatively as they are not friendly in promoting women’s participation. The chain of command, formal policies, informal networks, and gender representatives were all rated unfavourably by a majority of respondents. The average mean score of 2.24 (on a 5-point scale) indicates that current communication structures are not effectively supporting women’s integration and advancement in the sector.This study recommends that the security sector including Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and National Police Service (NPS) leadership conduct a comprehensive review of existing communication structures to ensure they actively promote gender inclusivity at all levels. Another recommendation is the development of a multi-channel communication strategy that effectively combines traditional and digital media to reach women across all demographics and geographic locations.