Challenges facing Gender Mainstreaming of the Provincial Administration in Ruiru District, Kiambu County
Loading...
Date
2013-11-06
Authors
Mbui, Erastus Mwenda
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
This study was done in Ruiru District in Kiambu County. It sought to assess the
challenges facing gender mainstreaming in the provincial administration and
recommend remedial measures. This was achieved through an assessment of the
gender mainstreaming strategies in use, the extent to which they have contributed to
gender equality and the challenges that these strategies have not been able to address
in order to reduce gender inequalities in the district. A sample of 58 respondents
consisting of 33 men and 25 women drawn from Githurai and Ruiru Divisions of the
District was used in the study. These included eleven government officers working in
the provincial administration among them five women and six men. Twelve men
village elders were randomly sampled from a list of seventy nine, while all the six
women village elders in the district were purposively sampled for a focus group
discussion. The village elders were sampled for the role that they play in helping
administrators in discharge of duties within the villages that they serve. Also
randomly sampled were 29 members of the public seeking services from the offices of
provincial administrators across the district. These were composed of 14 women and
15 men. The study found that though there have been efforts to mainstream gender in
the provincial administration, women are yet to get their fair share of opportunities in
the institution. There are still some gender inequalities in terms of the number of men
and women occupying public administration offices and even the expectations of who
can hold such an office. Institutional culture and environment appear to be the major
challenges to gender mainstreaming efforts. The ministry of provincial administration
and internal security has also not done all that is necessary to prepare the district for
effective gender mainstreaming. In this respect, ministerial gender policy and action
plan were found to be lacking. The study recommends the stepping up of gender
mainstreaming efforts which should be preceded by a gender analysis as well as the
development of a ministerial gender policy and an action plan. These should form the
basis for monitoring and evaluation to ensure the targets set in the Gender Action Plan
are on course.
Description
HQ 1233 .K4M33