Original Research Article

Challenges in gender mainstreaming in the management of water at the bridge water project in Kakamega County, Kenya

^*1Brian Mwambu, ²Prof. Elishiba Kimani and ³Dr. Lucy Maina

¹Kenyatta University, Department of Gender and Development Studies, P.O. Box 10012-00200, Nairobi, Kenya
²Kenyatta University, Department Of Gender and Development Studies, P.O Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
³Kenyatta University, Department Of Sociology, P.O. Box 43844-00100, Nairobi, Kenya

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: brianmwambu@gmail.com
Tel: 254 724 684 491

Accepted April 20, 2015

Abstract

Water is an important natural resource in the lives of all human beings. Women and men have different roles and experiences affecting perceptions and use of natural resources including water. It is thus important that men and women be equally involved in its management so as to effectively and equitably address their needs, concerns and the distribution of accrued benefits. This study sought to establish water uses and identify challenges in mainstreaming gender in the management of the Bridge Water Supply Project. The mandate of the project was to drill boreholes for domestic and institutional use, through funding from donors and the local community. The study focused on the Bridge Water Project which had drilled 123 boreholes for use in households, learning and religious institutions in Kakamega County. The study was a case study guided by the Gender Planning Framework developed by Caroline Moser in 1980. 10% samples of 13 out of the 123 committees that manage the boreholes were randomly selected as respondents to the study. They include 5 household committees, 6 learning and 2 committees from religious institutions. Key informants were heads of selected institutions and the chief of the location where the study was undertaken. The instruments used to collect data were Questionnaires, Focused Group Discussion, Interview Schedule and Observation. Data collected was cross-tabulated for qualitative analysis. The study established that women were discriminated against in terms of access to water management committee positions in relation to utilization of water as a resource. Water supplied by the Bridge Project is predominantly utilized by women in learning institutions followed by households and lastly by religious institutions. Lack of awareness on the affirmative action policy by members of the project disadvantaged women to ascend into leadership roles. Other determinants were associating women to the gender assigned roles, low level of awareness on gender mainstreaming by the project members, low turnout and inconsistency of participation by women during the project

Keywords: Challenges, Committees, Gender Mainstreaming, Kakamega, Kenya Management, Water