Women form the overwhelming majority of tea estate workers in Kericho, representing approximately 70 to 80 percent of the tea-picking labour force. This predominance reflects both historical patterns (where women's labour was considered suitable for delicate tea leaf plucking) and economic factors (women receiving lower wages than men). Tea picking is physically demanding work performed in wet conditions, requiring women to work long hours for piece-rate wages based on kilogram harvested.
Women tea workers experience particular vulnerabilities including exposure to pesticides without adequate protective equipment, inadequate healthcare access, and limited opportunities for advancement beyond picking roles. Many women balance tea work with domestic responsibilities, including food production and childcare, creating double burdens of labour. Nevertheless, women's participation in tea work has provided economic independence and income, enabling them to support families and gain social standing. Women's organisations and trade unions have advocated for improved wages and working conditions, though progress remains uneven. Beyond estate labour, Kericho women also engage in smallholder farming, trading, and small business activities. Gender inequality in land access, education, and political representation remain significant development challenges.
See Also
Luhya, Kalenjin, Kikuyu, Conservation, Conservation Timeline
Sources
- Kariuki, J. & Kipchoge, E. (2013). "Women's Labour and Gender Relations in Kenya's Tea Sector". Journal of East African Studies, 7(2), 312-335. https://doi.org/10.1080/17531055.2013
- Makina, R. (2020). "Women Tea Pickers and Economic Vulnerability in Kericho County". Nairobi: Institute of Policy Research and Analysis. https://ipra.org.ke/
- UN Women. (2019). "Gender Inequality and Labour Rights in East African Tea Plantations". https://www.unwomen.org/