An Exploration of Gender Disparity Practices and Their Effects on Land Use at Masii Ward, Machakos County.

Abstract

The study was an exploration of gender disparity practices affecting land use at Masii ward, Mwala sub-county, Machakos County and whose purpose was to investigate gender disparity practices and how they affected land use. The objectives were to establish any existing gender disparity practices that affected land use, their causes, effects and the recommendations that could be given to reduce gender disparity practices. The study was a descriptive survey with a sample size of forty (40) where purposive sampling procedure was used and thirty-six (36) responses were received for qualitative data, eight (8) key informants and sixteen (16) focus group discussion respondents. Three different instruments were used including semi structured interview guides, key informants’ interview schedules as well as focus group discussion guides. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 which established that gender disparity practices existed that affected land use. The study revealed that the disparities were caused by retrogressive cultural practices, limited education and unawareness of statutory provisions on land user rights. The effects of these disparities were found to be poor land productivity due to time wasted in consultation between men who were perceived to be the land owners and women who were the labor force providers of agricultural production, lack of freedom to disposal or participation in granting inheritance rights to land and that lead to disempowerment of the female gender and slowed development process. The study proposed policy recommendations including establishment of engendered statutory land policies, affirmative action to enhance constitutional awareness and implementation of statutory provisions as well as availability of documents related to land in all local administration offices, religious institutions and translated in a language that could be easily understood by the community.