The Sex Ratio Influence on the Dynamics of a Structured Population in Kenya

Demographic imbalances, particularly skewed sex ratios, pose significant risks to social cohesion and equitable development. In Kenya, the 2010 Constitution established 47 county governments with constitutionally guaranteed intergovernmental transfers and devolved revenue collection authority. Rapid population change has become central to national planning, yet the county-level socio-demographic determinants of sex ratio variation remain insufficiently examined. This study investigates the influence of average household size and population density on sex ratio disparities across Kenyan counties. Using data from the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, the analysis applies an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression framework with Newey-West robust standard errors. The results indicate a statistically significant positive association between average household size and sex ratios, suggesting that counties with larger households exhibit a higher proportion of males. In contrast, population density has no significant effect. These findings show that gender imbalance in Kenya is not a spatial issue solvable by urbanisation alone. Cities must actively implement gender-inclusive policies rather than assuming that modernisation will organically resolve gender disparities. This study points to the role of household-level socioeconomic and cultural dynamics in shaping gender imbalances and highlights the need for targeted demographic and social policies in regions experiencing pronounced population pressures.