RP-Department of Gender and Development Studies

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Awareness of Policy Frameworks that Affect the Provision and Utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among University Students in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(AJPO, 2023) Ongwae, Joshua; Okongó, Grace; Masiga, Casper
Purpose: the study sought to determine awareness of SRH policy frameworks that impact on the provision and utilization of SRH services among university students. Methodology: The study used a cross sectional research design complemented by exploratory research design. The study was conducted in the main campuses of two public universities namely Kenyatta University and Multimedia University and two private universities, United States International University- Africa, KCAUniversity in Nairobi County in Kenya. The target population were students aged between 18-25 years studying in universities with main campuses in Nairobi County. The total study population was approximately 192,193 students. The study applied stratified random sampling to identify the 370 students who completed the study questionnaires. Purposive sampling was used to select the students and staff who participated in in-depth interviews. The students who participated in focus group discussions were randomly selected. Findings: The study found out that most students, 95 (25.7%) reported to be aware of the Constitution of Kenya (2010) followed by 74 (20%) students who reported to be aware of the National Reproductive Health Policy (2007). When looking at the university level policy frameworks, most students, 229 (61.9%) split in almost equal numbers, male, 120 (32.4%) and female, 109 (29.5%) are aware of the university HIV/AIDS policy. The surveyed students who said they were not aware of any university SRH policies were 94 (25.4%), split in equal numbers between male and female students. The findings indicate low awareness of SRH policy frameworks by either gender which can be interpreted to mean that participation of the students in the development of the policy frameworks and dissemination of the developed policies is poor. Recommendations: The study’s recommendation to universities is to regularly disseminate national and university level SRH policy frameworks to the students. This can be done during orientation, as part of their studies and on special days convened to sensitize the students on their health.
A Baseline Assessment of Recipients of Opct Program in Kibera Informal Settlements
(International Peer Reviewed Journal and Book Publishing, 2017) Mbabu, Amanda Kinya; Masiga, Casper; Okong’o, Grace
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to conduct a baseline assessment of recipients of OPCT program in Kibera informal settlements Methodology: The exploratory design was considered appropriate for this study. Random sampling was used to select 50 respondents (15men, 35women) OPCT beneficiaries who were not members of KDC and 20 members of KDC. Random sampling was ideal because each respondent of the target population had an equal chance of being selected. Purposive sampling was used to identify 5 key informants. Results: The study found out that there were more women compared to men in the OPCT program. The study noted that the OPCT beneficiaries were 65 years and above, which showed adherence to the objective selection criteria. It was observed further that majority of the elderly OPCT beneficiaries also suffered from chronic diseases such as tuberculosis, high blood pressure and diabetes. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: To the recipients of OPCT, they should be sensitized and ensure they follow the required protocol so that they can avoid being struck off the register, and form welfare groups where they can socialize, share, enlighten each other, make friends and even champion their rights.
Challenges experienced by men and women in informal finance groups in Gachagi informal settlement in Thika Sub-County, Kenya
(GLOBEEDU Group, 2015) Mwangi, Judy; Kimani, Elishiba
Studies indicate that most people living in the informal settlements are usually poor and financially excluded. As such, they tend to rely on informal finance groups for their financial upkeep. Given that there exist several informal finance groups and for different purposes, this study sought to establish the challenges facing informal finance groups by men and women. The study was conducted in an informal settlement, namely Gachagi in Thika Sub-County, Kenya. The study adopted a qualitative descriptive design, and was guided by behavioral life cycle hypothesis advanced by Thaler (1954). The target population was 20 informal finance groups comprising 10 Rotating Saving and Credit Associations (ROSCAs), 5 welfare/clan groups, 3 Accumulating Savings and Credit Associations (ASCAs) and 2 investment groups. Out of the 20 informal finance groups, a sample size of 11 informal finance groups comprising 5 ROSCAs, 3 welfare/clan groups, 2 ASCAs and 1 investment group were selected forming a sample of 55%. The main respondents of the study were men and women members of the selected informal finance groups including group officials. Key study informants included the Divisional Social Services Officer (DSSO), the Chief and two elders from the informal settlement. Data collection tools were Focus Group Discussion guides for men and women in informal finance groups and interview guides for key informants. Data collected was cross-tabulated for qualitative analysis. Findings indicated that there were challenges which hindered smooth running of informal finance groups and therefore discouraged the participation and the rate of saving among men and women. These included poor governance, low attendance of group meetings, defaulting by members and burdensome gender roles among others
Challenges Faced by Women Football Players who Participate in Football Leagues
(International Peer Reviewed Journals and Books (IPRJB), 2017) Wangari, Gorreti; Kimani, Elishiba; Wango, Geofrey
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify challenges faced by women football players who participate in football leagues. Methodology: The study adopted a descriptive survey design. It was conducted in Gatundu North and Thika West. The target population for this study was the 8 and 6women football teams in Gatundu North and Thika West districts, respectively. Focus group discussion guide, Interview schedule and Questionnaire were the instruments of data collection. The study mainly yielded qualitative data. This was sorted out, analyzed quantitatively and presented in tables. Results: There were several challenges that faced women football players. Among them, funding was the main one. Others included; society‟s negative attitude towards women football which translates to poor participation of women in football activities in the area; biological factors such as menstruation and pregnancy; poor governance of the football organizations; limited access to facilities and equipment and women‟s gender roles and responsibilities. Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that the National government, county government as well as the Football Kenya Federation should be keen on women football and give it the attention that it deserves in order to improve their participation in football.
Challenges facing female learners in various levels of education in Kenya
(2011) Kimani, Elishiba; Mugenda, Olive M.; Maina, Lucy; Wainaina, Michael
This study investigated the challenges facing female learners at various levels of education, with a view to generating strategies and recommendations that would assist in promoting their full participation in the education sector in the country. In addition, the study investigated the challenges faced by female employees in the participating institutions. The participants were drawn from four institutions, purposively selected to represent middle level colleges, public as well as private universities. The study established that females faced challenges throughout the various education cycles as learners. The challenges seemed to increase as the female students went up the education ladder. Although identified challenges ranged from social-economic to policy and institutional based, sexual harassment was identified as a serious one cutting across all levels of education. This and other challenges call for urgent redress at institutional and government levels if gender equality and women empowerment is to be realized. The study concludes by discussing strategies that can be adapted to enhance participation of females at various levels of education in Kenya. Some of the strategies had implications for policies while others demanded social transformation in terms of change of people’s culture and attitudes. Others challenged institutional policies and practices. Specific strategies included the need to promote access to education; provision of safe, friendly and secure learning and teaching environment; establishment and upgrading of single sex schools in the learning of science, mathematics and information technology (SMIT); teaching of life-skills and retooling of teachers for gender sensitive pedagogy
Challenges in Gender Mainstreaming in the Management of Water at the Bridge Water Project in Kakamega County, Kenya
(Merit Research Journals, 2015-05) Mwambu, Brian; Kimani, Elishiba; Maina, Lucy
Water is an important natural resource in the lives of all human beings. Women and men have different roles and experiences affecting perceptions and use of natural resources including water. It is thus important that men and women be equally involved in its management so as to effectively and equitably address their needs, concerns and the distribution of accrued benefits. This study sought to establish water uses and identify challenges in mainstreaming gender in the management of the Bridge Water Supply Project. The mandate of the project was to drill boreholes for domestic and institutional use, through funding from donors and the local community. The study focused on the Bridge Water Project which had drilled 123 boreholes for use in households, learning and religious institutions in Kakamega County. The study was a case study guided by the Gender Planning Framework developed by Caroline Moser in 1980. 10% samples of 13 out of the 123 committees that manage the boreholes were randomly selected as respondents to the study. They include 5 household committees, 6 learning and 2 committees from religious institutions. Key informants were heads of selected institutions and the chief of the location where the study was undertaken. The instruments used to collect data were Questionnaires, Focused Group Discussion, Interview Schedule and Observation. Data collected was cross-tabulated for qualitative analysis. The study established that women were discriminated against in terms of access to water management committee positions in relation to utilization of water as a resource. Water supplied by the Bridge Project is predominantly utilized by women in learning institutions followed by households and lastly by religious institutions. Lack of awareness on the affirmative action policy by members of the project disadvantaged women to ascend into leadership roles. Other determinants were associating women to the gender assigned roles, low level of awareness on gender mainstreaming by the project members, low turnout and inconsistency of participation by women during the project
Challenges in Quality Control for Postgraduate Supervision
(Academicians Research Center, 2014) Kimani, Elishiba
The role of the universities as engines of knowledge cannot can it be realised with low quality teaching and research output. The underlying assumption is that universities are capable of providing adequate foundation for the complexities of the expected knowledge economy through postgraduate degree programmes in which research is central. However, the quality of higher education and research dimension presents a concern especially in the developing countries. On the other hand, postgraduate studies are expected to play a vital role in contributing to the critical mass of human resources, much need to drive the global economy. This article focuses on the postgraduate supervision which is indeed a high level and complex form of teaching in postgraduate programmes. Although universities have policies and guidelines for their post-graduate supervision, they are confronting a drastically changing learning and teaching environment, characterised by increased demand, complex career expectations from the market and students and a sense of faster completion rate. With the new dynamics in the higher education sector everywhere, there is an obvious need for a paradigm shift to meet the demand, while at the same time maintain quality in postgraduate programmes and supervision. The purpose of this article is to bring into the fore the importance of quality control in postgraduate supervision, the challenges that affect the process and also suggest some strategies for redress.
Challenges that opct program face in addressing the needs and plight of the elderly men and women in Kibera informal settlements
(AJPO, 2017) Mbabu, Amanda Kinya; Masiga, Casper; Okong’o, Grace
Purpose: The purpose of the study was to establish challenges that OPCT program face in addressing the needs and plight of the elderly men and women in Kibera informal settlements. Methodology: The exploratory design was considered appropriate for this study. Random sampling was used to select 50 respondents (15men, 35women) OPCT beneficiaries who were not members of KDC and 20 members of KDC. Random sampling was ideal because each respondent of the target population had an equal chance of being selected. Purposive sampling was used to identify 5 key informants. Results: The study revealed the following as critical challenges affecting OPCT program namely; inadequate funding amidst competing needs of the beneficiaries; the disbursement is irregular hence one cannot make meaningful plans with the money, extensive bureaucracy in the registration process coupled with ethnicity issues and corruption. In addition there are cases of fingerprints failing, omission on the payroll and amount inconsistencies. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The study further recommends that the government should ensure there is prompt and regular disbursement of the funds in order to minimize hitches in the entire financial year and to enable the beneficiaries make meaningful plans with the money
Closeness as a mediator in providing and receiving social support on the social well-being of older persons in Kitui County, Kenya
(PAGEPress, 2022) Mbuthia, Kezia; Mwangi, Samuel; Owino, George Evans
Research on the social well-being(SWB) of older persons in relation to socialsupport provided and received has generatedconsiderable amount of scholarly debate.Social support received or provided has beenfound in literature to produce mixed effects(positive and negative) on SWB, necessitat-ing further research. The current study pro-vides Kenyan evidence to a corpus ofresearch mostly focused on European andAmerican studies, contributing to the currentdiscussion on SWB. Thus, the aim of thepresent study is to investigate how closenessto close network members (CNM) influencesolder persons’ satisfaction with social sup-port provided and received. The study adopt-ed a descriptive cross-sectional study designand mixed methods approach. Chi-squareanalyses were conducted, and the resultsrevealed that there was a significant relation-ship between closeness and satisfaction withproviding social support with exact P valueof 0.002. In addition, there was a significantrelationship between closeness and satisfac-tion with received social support with exactP value of 0.000 (P<0.05). The researchhighlights that closeness to CNM enhancesSWB when older persons provide or receivesocial support
Community empowerment through participatory resource assessment at Kathekakai settlement scheme, Machakos County, Kenya
(Academic Journals, 2016) Baaru, M.W.; Gachene, C.K.K.
Participatory mapping is a power tool in resource management. Through this exercise communities are able to identify changes in natural resources and make decision on how best to manage the change. The study analyzed changes in natural resources in Kathakakai settlement scheme, Machakos County using participatory resource mapping, with the aim to discuss possible effects. The area, which used to be a ranching enterprise for nearly a hundred years, was sub divided in 1995 into individual farm holdings with average farm size of 2.5 hectares per household. Individual farmers cleared the land for agricultural activities and other land developments. The results show that natural resources have decreased since the ranch became a settlement scheme in 1995. Farmers indicated that the natural forests had decreased and were replaced by exotic trees. Vast land was cleared for cultivation, rivers, and dams had dried-up while soil erosion had increased. Majority of farmers (98%) said they had observed a general change in the climate of the area. They cited declining crop production (29%), increased drought (15%), and increased temperatures (10%) as some of the major pointers to climate change. However, farmers adopted various adapting and coping strategies. Drought tolerant crops (25%), early maturing crops (17%), and water harvesting (14%) were some of the strategies adopted by farmers in response to emerging changes. The results also show that resource based management at the community level is still a challenge and a lot of investment needs to be done in this field for sustainable management
Constituency Development Fund As an Instrument of Rural Development in Kakamega County, Kenya
(Reviewed Journal International of Social Science & Humanities, 2023) Matete, Jemima Butinyi; Wangaruro, Jane; Owino, George Evans
This study sought to assess the dynamics of Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as a tool of rural development in Ikolomani Constituency, Kakamega County. Alexis de Tocqueville’s “Decentralization Theory,” whose main tenet is the linkage between decentralization, democracy, and citizen participation, guided this study. A cross-sectional research design was used and mixed methods research, whereby, both qualitative and quantitative research techniques and approaches were used to gather data for the study. The research study sample was determined using Andrew Fisher's Sample Size Determination Formula resulting in a sample size of 384 respondents. The instruments for data collection included a survey questionnaire, which was used to get quantitative data and focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs) which were used to gather qualitative data. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as mean, mode, percentages, and frequency distributions. The qualitative data was analysed mathematically. The study obtained ethical approval from the KUERC and informed consent was obtained before data collection. The study established that a very majority (84.4%) indicated that they were cognisant of the existence of the CDF fund. It was also found that more than half (53.6%) of the respondents learned about the fund through chief barazas. Regarding the utilization of the fund, it was established that nearly three-quarters (72%) of the respondents perceived that Ikolomani Constituency CDF is well utilized. Lastly, most of the respondents strongly agreed that low community participation (42.5%), embezzlement of CDF (42.5%) and high levels of corruption and poor leadership (48%) were the main challenges facing the constituency development fund in Ikolomani Constituency. The study concluded that it is paramount for policymakers and practitioners, including leaders to put in place effective strategies that will see strict adherence to the set modalities of CDFs implementation, and management that would propel the realization of sustainable rural development.
Determinants of Income Security among Pensionable Retired Persons in Kenya
(Chemchemi: International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2020) Maina, Lucy; Kimani, Elishiba
Retirees’ income security constitutes a key concern for nations aiming to secure their ageing populations. Kenya has a growing retirement sector with about 252,000 retired civil servants who are on pension and a significant number of private sector retirees who receive a gratuity at retirement. Though formally retired workers may receive a pension, studies consistently report low pensions uptake and inadequate incomes for those retired as well as an increasing national and societal burden. This paper explores the key determinants of income security among 978 retired persons who were receiving dues on their retirement savings. Guided by the life cycle and third age theory, the study investigated whether retirees’ socio-economic attributes, pre-retirement financial status, retirees’ benefit package, retirees’ utilization of retirement savings and investments and pre-retirement preparation correlated with income security. A mixed-method study design was used combining survey and case study approaches. Cluster, purposive and random sampling methods were employed to select retirees under the four categories of retirement schemes in Kenya across 18 selected counties of Kenya. Hypotheses were tested using the Chi square test of significance and comparison of means (t-test) specifically to illustrate the relationship between socio-economic indicators, pre-retirement factors and income security at retirement. Logistic regression procedure was employed to isolate the significant factors that predict income security in retirement. The binary logistic regression analysis confirm that retirees with higher education had 26% higher chances of enjoying income security, those who earned higher pre-retirement salary had 25% higher chances of having a secure income at retirement, those knowledgeable about pensions had 35% higher chances of being income secure while those who had planned for their retirement had 14% higher chances of achieving income security. The study recommends crafting of a robust retirement planning package, financial and health plans for retirees’ income security and sustainable livelihoods.
Developing a Standardized Questionnaire for Measuring Older Adult’s Health and Well-Being in Kenya
(Oxford University Press, 2023-12) Maina, Lucy W.; Langat, Gloria Chepngeno; Mwangi, Samuel M.
Background and Objectives: Policy and program interventions for older adults 60 years or older in Africa have consistently been undermined by a lack of vital data as they are usually excluded from nationally representative population surveys. The Health and Wellbeing of Older Persons in Kenya (HWOPs-1) study developed a standardized assessment questionnaire that can be used for periodic data generation. This study presents how the questionnaire was developed and examines its internal consistency and psychometric properties of the health module. Research Design and Methods: The development and validation of the HWOPs-1 questionnaire was a 3-step process. Step 1 was a review of 19 panel studies and 2 national level surveys followed by a wide consultation with key experts and stakeholders on aging. The 3rd step was validation of the questionnaire with a cross-section of a representative sample to test its applicability and adaptability in a mix of rural and semi-urban settings. The internal consistency and psychometric properties of the 3 subscales: functionality, disability, and quality of life were assessed using Cronbach’s (α) alpha and exploratory factor analysis, respectively. Results: Three subscales of functionality, disability, and quality of life showed high internal consistency with α = 0.94, 0.97, and 0.87, respectively. There were also consistent factor loadings above 0.3 across all the factors. Gender differences across the 3 scales from the results of t test were observed. Finally, weak but statistically signifcant correlations between the measures of well-being and risk factors for noncommunicable diseases were also observed from the analyses. Discussion and Implications: The indicators assessed have been used in settings outside Africa to measure health and well-being of older adults are adaptable and reliable enabling comparability across space and across studies. The questionnaire provides a framework for examining disease and disability burden and their determinants among older adults in Kenya or similar settings.
Developmental Change and Peace among Children in Kenya
(Chemchemi International Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences, 2015) Ngugi, Pamela M. Y.
The concept of engaging children all over the world in participation or consultation is a relatively recent advent within the children’s right arena, and at least at first glance is an idea alive with promises and potential. This promise has special significance, given the range of conditions in Kenya that render most of the children particularly vulnerable. Thus children have been given a platform through the Children’s Assembly, through which they can engage with the many unique problems that curve out their daily existence. It is in this regard that the paper argues that given an opportunity children can be agents of peace, change and development in their own right. The paper presents information from the children’s themselves concerning their present experiences and future aspiration by examining the functions of the Children’s Assembly, Kenya and how the assembly engages children in contributing in meaningful ways to discussions of issues affecting them. By so doing, they are considered as agents of change, peace and development in relation to their engagement in the educational process, access to and negotiation of work, development of survival strategies in extreme conditions of poverty and deprivation that affects most of the children in Kenya.
Domestic Solid Waste and Health Related Challenges among Men and Women: A Case of Kiandutu Informal Settlement, Kiambu County, Kenya
(EANSO, 2024-02) Mwangi, Willy W.; Waweru, Lucy W.
Health is a life component that cannot be ignored. In developing economies, the migration of people, both men and women, from rural areas into urban areas results from multiple factors. The social dynamics that include a search for a better life take the lead. This dire and never-ending relocation has led to an ever-increasing mushrooming of informal settlements in the urban areas. Among the devastating consequences is the increase in domestic solid waste and its poor management. This poor domestic solid waste management health challenges is coupled with gendered socialization and perceptions, some knowledge and practices. Social Context Theory was used to guide this study. The theory assumes that there exists flexibility of gender within a defined context. The study employed exploratory research design whose choice allowed an in-depth view of the generation of both qualitative and quantitative data. Random sampling of the villages and purposive sampling of the respondents were used to identify the study sample. A total number of 264 households was used as the sample size. This was a representation of 10% of all the households in the randomly sampled villages with each village being allocated a number of the respondents in regard to gender. The unit of analysis was the household, with the household heads, male and female being the respondents. Key informants were also considered in the study. They included the village elders, community health workers and the local administration. Tools that were considered for the generation of data included observation checklists, guided questionnaires and interview guides. Qualitative data was thematically coded and analysed using SPSS V24. The study concluded that early gendered socialisation has the capacity to contribute to poor methods household solid waste for both men and women, hence contributing to health challenges. The study also observed that inadequate knowledge among men and women in the management of solid waste was linked to inequitable health challenges experienced by both genders in informal settlements. The social realities plug into the dominant arrangements of gendered social behaviour that have great capacity to affect individuals’ health. The findings suggest that gender-sensitive policies can be used to promote community awareness creation and education to modify the behaviour of men and women in protecting their own lives in terms of health.
Domestic solid waste management practices in an informal settlement: A gendered perspective
(Royallite Global, 2021-07-30) Mwangi, Willy W.; Kimani, Elishiba; Okong’o, Grace; Majale, Christine
This study aimed at investigating the practices of men and women in the management of domestic solid waste in Kiandutu Informal Settlement in Kiambu County, Kenya. The consideration of men and women is paramount because a community is made up of the two genders each displaying different characteristics, perceptions and behaviour towards a similar situation. The study was guided by the Social Context Theory and Identity Theory. The findings reveal that gendered socialization processes played a big role in men’s and women’s daily encounter with domestic solid waste. The domestic solid waste practices exhibited were gendered and being regulated by socio-cultural and environmental factors. Men and women were found to engage in various solid waste management practices but motivated by different factors that had a gender connotation. The study therefore suggests that strategic gendered interventions are a prerequisite to effective management of domestic solid waste particularly in the informal settlement where solid waste management equipment and infrastructure are limited
Economic Empowerment of Refugee Women in Ghana and its Influence on Household Decision Making
(IJCAB, 2022) Ofosu-Koranteng, Monica; Okemwa, Pacificah; Mwatha, Regina
This study looked at the economic empowerment of refugee women in the Ampain and Egyeikrom camps and how this influence household decision making. Specifically, the study was concerned with refugee women in camps who have been economically empowered and live in male-headed households. At the same time, these male heads have not been economically empowered and hence have no stable source of income. A case study design was used to conduct the study. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 104 refugee women. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect qualitative and quantitative data. Focus group discussion guide was used to gather data from spouses of selected refugee women. Data was analyzed and presented in descriptive statistics and verbatim quotations. The results revealed that refugee women have been economically empowered and are mostly the breadwinners in their households. However, economic empowerment has not been reflected in their contributions to household decision making. Refugee men continue to have autocratic powers in household decision making. On the other hand, refugee women are pleased to allow men to hold on to this role in exchange for the companionship and security they require as refugees in another country. Refugee men who are angered by their spouse’s new role as the breadwinner use their decision-making authority to bring these women into submission. The paper recommends that refugee women's economic empowerment include components that allow refugee men to be empowered alongside women. Additionally, refugee men should be sensitized on the benefit of the women’s economic empowerment to the family and the society, as well as the need for women to equally participate in household decision making to enrich the outcomes and as an issue for promoting women’s welfare and human right in the household.
Education As a Strategy to Mitigate Harmful Cultural Practices and Value Systems
(International Journal of Current Research, 2018-08-30) Nyamu, Florence K.; Wanjama, Leah N.; Irungu, Rose M.; Kariuki, Fred N.
Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic Containment Measures on Women and Men’s Informal Businesses among Informal Market Traders in Mandera County, Kenya
(IJSSIT, 2024-05) Ali, Adan Abdullahi; Mutuma, Sheila N.; Mose, Grace B.
This study aimed to explore the effects of COVID-19 pandemic containment measures on women and men’s informal businesses. The study is part of a specific objective affiliated to a study on gender implications of COVID 19 pandemic containment measures among informal market traders at Elwak market in Mandera County. The Feminist Economic Theory and Structural Inertia Theory guided the study. A descriptive research design was employed and the study engaged 85 informal market traders using simple random sampling method. Twelve key informants were also purposively sampled. Data was collected using questionnaires, key informant interview guides, and focus group discussion guides. Quantitative data analysis was done using SPSS version 25 software to give descriptive statistics and presented as percentages, frequencies, and averages using tables, histograms, and pie charts. Qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis to determine the themes and patterns formed and findings presented in narrative form and verbatim quotes. Findings indicate disparities and inequalities among women were increased due to care work at household level. Further, the cost of loss due to the pandemic was more among women than men. The pandemic affected both private and public dichotomies where women are already affected disproportionately
Elusive Quest by Women for Legislative Numbers in Kenya’s National Assembly of the 11th Parliament (2013 -2017)
(International Peer Reviewed Journal and Book Publishing, 2021) Miruka, Simon Okumba; Wamue-Ngare, Grace; Okemwa, Pacificah
Purpose: Application of gender quotas in the 2013 general elections in Kenya led to 68 women legislators joining the National Assembly. This was the largest number of women elected to the legislature since independence in 1963. Studies show that such surges embolden women to pursue legislative agenda on gender equality and social welfare issues. This article examines women legislators’ quests for further increased numbers in Kenya’s National Assembly 2013 -2017 and the results. Methodology: This was a descriptive study of Kenya’s National Assembly of the 11th parliament (2013 -2017). A total of 11 women and four key informants were identified through stratified and purposive sampling respectively. Data was collected using semistructured interview schedules. Responses were recorded in writing and audio-tape. The study also did a content analysis of the Hansard. Data was transcribed, manually processed, analysed and discussed under each study objective. Quantitative data was captured in tables with descriptions while qualitative data was narrated with inferences. Findings: The study established that efforts to increase women’s numbers in the legislature were unsuccessful because of resistance from male colleagues. However, women achieved an increase in committee membership and leadership. The article concludes that resistance to the proposed affirmative law to increase women’s legislative numbers was rooted in patriarchy and male entitlement to power. Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy: The article demonstrates how the quest to embed affirmative action in law was frustrated by patriarchy. It states that for women to succeed on such pursuits, they need to be assertive and strategic. It further demonstrates that women’s occupation of parliamentary leadership positions enabled them to showcase their abilities and debunk the notion that they are inferior. This coheres with liberal feminism, that marginalising women denies the society the benefit of their talents. The article proposes that women should seek influential parliamentary committees instead of seeking a general spread in all of them. A constitutional amendment to have an unequivocal provision on elections that automates the desired proportions of women to men in the National Assembly is also recommended.

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