Analysis of Women participation in trade Union leadership in Kenya

Abstract

This study aimed at analyzing the participation of women in trade union leadership in Kenya. To achieve this the researcher set out to determine the extent and levels of participation of women in trade union leadership and the policies, action programs and union characteristics that influence women's participation in union leadership. The study involved gathering data from secretary generals from all registered trade unions in Kenya. Data was collected through use of a questionnaire and analvzcd using descriptive statistics. The information was presented in the form of tables and percentages in order to show union characteristics, levels of women participation and policies and action programs in place to enhance women participation in trade union leadership. The study concluded that participation of women in trade union leadership in Kenya is still wanting. Majority of the women leaders are to be found at branch level as opposed to national level. Also most of the women in executive positions were - trustees or in deputizing positions. It was further established that unions with more women members, tended to have policies and action programs that enhanced participation of women in leadership. Also those unions with women in the executive were found to have been registered recently. It was also established that the training programs that existed in unions were so irregular to have any impact and their content most often irrelevant in equipping women with leadership skills. It was further noted that despite the existence of action programs there was little effort by unions to institutionalize them. It is recommended that further research be conducted to understand the women in trade union leadership and how they have successfully overcome the barriers that many other women encounter in their efforts to join leadership .