Title:
THE MISSING LINK: GENDER DIVERSITY AMONG ACADEMIC STAFF IN PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN KENYA

Authors:
Wycliffe Mande ,Kenya

Abstract:
Despite its importance and constitutional recognition, gender diversity is an ideal that is yet to be realized inhigher institutions of learning. Public universities in Kenya are guided by government legislations and policies and they should embrace gender diversity in their structures, recruitments and appointments of its human resources. However, according to the Kenya National Cohesion and Integration Commission, majority of the public universities in Kenya contravene the legal and policy stipulations in relation gender diversity. This paper examines the concept of gender diversity in public universities in Kenya. Using desk-top research approach, empirical and theoretical studies were analyzed and research findings and conclusions obtained. Based on the social categorization and the similarity-attraction theories,the study theoretically poses an argument that gender diversityis contravened in relation to academic staff composition in public universities in Kenya.The conclusion of the study is that sustainable development in the country and particularly in public universities, requires the concerted efforts of both men and women at all levels of decision making among the employees. The study then recommends that these institutions should strive to upscale representation of female employees and particularly at the apex of decision making not just as a fulfillment of affirmative policies but as positive gender diversity practice