Kenyatta University aspires to achieve gender equity, equality and inclusiveness. To this end, the University established the Gender and Affirmative Action Implementation Unit. The Centre was originally established in September 2007. The Unit was upgraded to a Centre in April, 2008. The Centre is tasked with mainstreaming gender in the entire Kenyatta University Community through the enforcement of the University Gender Policy and the Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Harassment Policy. 
Mainstreaming gender involves bringing into consideration and action, the needs and concerns of all staff and students. This strategy tries to ensure that there is equality and equity in the operations of the University, that the value of every individual is recognized and appreciated, and that, there is a conducive and friendly environment that respects the diversity of staff and students and enables them to achieve their full potential, to contribute fully and to derive maximum benefits and enjoyment while at the University.
Gender refers to the socially constructed and constantly changing roles, responsibilities and rights of women and men in a given society. Gender roles are determined by the society. They differ from one culture to another and even within the same culture depending on such factors as age, education, exposure and religion among other factors. Sex on the other hand refers to the biological make-up of an individual, which is determined at birth and cannot be changed.
Gender disparities occur due to factors such as cultural differences, social attitudes, and unequal accessibility to productive resources, educational attainment and disproportional participation in decision making at all levels. Because of the differences in gender roles, rights and responsibilities, programs impact differently on women and men. 
In some cases, programmes can benefit one gender while they disadvantage the other. Gender analysis enables possible negative impacts to be detected and corrective measures undertaken. 
To this end Kenyatta University carried out a gender analysis of the education and welfare status on the University and came up with the Gender and The Gender Based Violence and Sexual Harassment Policies to ensure corrective measures are undertaken.

Rationale
Kenyatta University currently operates on its Strategic & Vision Plan 2016 – 2026. In this, Gender Mainstreaming (GM) is one of the priority areas. This is based on the fact that despite a number of initiatives that have been put in place to address gender inequality, big gaps in teaching, learning, research, space allocation, students and staff welfare, still exist. The Strategic and Vision Plan 2016 – 2026 has committed itself to:

  1. Enhancing the principle of equal opportunities such that no deserving persons are discriminated against on the basis of gender. This is done by strengthening the affirmative action policy
  2. Institutionalizing the principle of gender mainstreaming to ensure that opportunities and benefits are equally accessible to both women and men in all University’s operations.

Guiding Principles
Kenyatta University Gender Mainstreaming is founded on the following guiding principles:

  1. Gender is cross-cutting and thus interrogations and interventions should encompass all University functions, systems and processes.
  2. Gender issues must be made “visible” lest they become subsumed, neutral or disappear altogether.
  3. Although gender mainstreaming will apply to men, it is important to consider and/or enhance women’s - based interventions to redress historical imbalances
  4. Some gender gaps can be filled immediately while others require medium and long-term interventions.

Gender Mainstreaming Mandate
Conceptualized in Cairo in 1994, the gender mainstreaming concept came out of the recognition that previous measures to bring about equity and equality through the execution of women-specific interventions had not yielded results. By the end of 1970, no meaningful transformation was observed. GM hence advocated for engendering the planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation process in programs, where the needs, concerns and experiences of both men and women are considered central. It also became clear that gender mainstreaming had to be institutionalized beyond projects and programs, to include systems, structures and ensure that all actors and stakeholders recognize and understand this strategy. The United Nations has been instrumental in the promotion of gender mainstreaming