Factors influencing women's participation in decision making on land use in Kenya, Kimilili Bungoma District, Western Province, Kenya

Abstract

Although women constitute the majority of the population and playa significant role in agriculture, they have continued to be marginalised. Studies on women and land have concentrated on other areas and paid little attention to the participation of women in decision making on land use. The study was carried out among women in Kimilili Bungoma district to investigate the participation of women in decision making on land use. The design used was cross sectional survey. Systematic sampling technique was employed after the sample size was calculated using Yamane's formula (Yamane 1967) to select a total of 123 households. The instrument of data collection was the questionnaire.

Data was collected on demographic characteristics and participation of women in decision making in relation to culture and traditions, education, economic constraints and marital status. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for analysing Social Sciences (SPSS). The key findings were that women were not significantly involved in decision making on land use. Participation in culture hindered women's participation, women lack training on land use procedures as well as management of group activities. The use of let to share information has not been exploited. Women's level of income is quite low and most of them are not allowed to make decisions on how income accrued from farm sales should be spent.

Women in female headed house hold wielded more decision making power than their married counterparts. It is recommended that the government and policy makers should put in place affirmative action to help women access higher education as well as training in fields relevant to agriculture in which they are the majority of the labour force. Advocacy and awareness programs to help address issues of culture and traditions should be put in place for attitude change among others.