The High Court in Kenya has ruled that President William Ruto’s Cabinet does not meet the constitutional two-thirds gender principle and has directed the Head of State to address the imbalance within 120 days.

In its decision, the court found that the current composition of the Cabinet falls short of the required threshold under the Constitution, which states that no more than two-thirds of members in elective or appointive bodies should be of the same gender.

The ruling came after a petition challenging the Cabinet appointments, which argued that the selections failed to uphold gender equality and inclusivity as provided for in the Constitution.

The court therefore ordered the President to take corrective action within four months, either through restructuring existing Cabinet positions or making new nominations to ensure compliance with the law.This judgment now puts additional pressure on the Kenya Kwanza administration to align its executive appointments with constitutional requirements.

The two-thirds gender rule has for years remained a contentious issue in Kenya, with successive governments accused of failing to fully implement it across public institutions.

Activists and legal experts have consistently pushed for stricter adherence to the principle as a way of promoting fairness and representation in leadership.

The latest ruling is expected to reignite national debate on gender equality in governance, as well as the broader issue of constitutional compliance within senior government appointments and public service structures.