Influence of Gender Mainstreaming in Livestock Management on the Socio-Economic Status of Turkana Pastoralists, in Turkana County, Kenya

Abstract

Turkana women have experienced gender discrimination in livestock management for a long time. Male dominance in decision-making, control and access over resources prevent women from participating and benefiting from livestock activities. This is attributed to factors such as cultural beliefs, illiteracy levels, and insecurity among the Turkana pastoralists. These factors cause low livestock productivity and income earning to both men and women. The result is endemic food insecurity among Turkana pastoralists’ women and children. Nevertheless, with proper gender mainstreaming policies in place, issues pertaining to food insecurity, poverty, ignorance, and education will be addressed thus allowing both genders to rear and manage livestock in a more equitable and productive manner. Gender mainstreaming strategy has not been successful in Turkana County, despite interventions by the Kenya government. This study examined the influence of gender mainstreaming in livestock management on the socio-economic status of Turkana pastoralists, in Turkana County. The respondents who took part in the study are all livestock keepers from the Turkana communities, in Loima district. The district has a total population of 40,278 people. The estimated number of pastoralists fully engaged in Livestock keeping in Turkana County was 3800, a sample of 136 pastoralists were selected using simple random sampling technique, while 5 key informants (livestock officers and community leaders) were selected using purposive sampling. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The data was collected by the use of a questionnaire and an interview schedule. The instruments were piloted using a sub-sample of 11 pastoralists from Loima district who did not participate in the main study. The Cronbach Alpha reliability coefficient of the questionnaire was 0.704 which was greater than 0.7 and thus adapted. Quantitative data collected was then analyzed with the aid of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.0. Qualitative was analyzed using textual analysis and presented in narrative form. The findings showed that the factors that inhibit gender mainstreaming in livestock management include: lack of technical skills among women, socio cultural beliefs, distant and risky location to water sources and market places for access by women, the traditions governing animal species ownership, unfavorable perception towards control of cash resulting from selling of milk products, and unfavorable perception towards equal participation in livestock production activities. The study also established that Turkana men play a major role in livestock management in their community. They are the key decision makers in regard to livestock production activities. The findings show that pastoralists’ perceptions towards gender roles in livestock production and management are that men continue to dominate the decision making the process in production activities, animal species ownership, and insecurity issues. The findings from this study helps in improving gender mainstreaming in livestock and help the pastoralists understand the benefits which accrue when men and women are allowed to participate more equitably in livestock management decisions.