Women in Makueni County maintain significant roles in agricultural production, household food security, and community wellbeing, though they face constraints including limited property rights, gender-based violence, and unequal access to resources. Women's economic contributions remain essential to household survival and community development.
Women perform substantial agricultural labour including crop cultivation, weeding, harvesting, and postharvest processing. Women often manage household food crops while men manage cash crops, though this division is not absolute. Women's agricultural labour is often uncompensated family work, raising questions about resource access and control.
Water collection represents a significant female labour burden, with women and girls typically responsible for household water provision. Water collection consumes substantial time and effort, limiting time for education, income activities, and rest. Improving water access directly benefits women through labour reduction.
Women's formal economic activities are concentrated in petty trading, small-scale agriculture, and informal services. Women traders engage in vegetable sales, grain trading, and small-scale commerce. However, women face constraints including limited capital, market access, and credit availability.
Property rights for women remain limited in Makueni, with inheritance and land ownership customs typically favouring male family members. Widows may lose property rights upon husbands' deaths, creating economic vulnerability. Legal reforms promoting women's property rights have had incomplete implementation.
Gender-based violence including domestic violence remains prevalent in Makueni communities. Violence impedes women's health, economic productivity, and wellbeing. Support services for violence survivors remain limited.
Women's political participation has expanded under devolution, with women reservations in county assembly. However, women's effective decision-making power remains limited. Women's economic and political empowerment remain development priorities.
Women's groups and cooperatives provide collective platforms for agricultural production, savings, and mutual support. These groups enhance women's bargaining power and access to information and markets.
See Also
- Makueni County Hub
- Kamba (ethnic group)
- Devolution Success
- Sand Dams (water technology)
- Climate Adaptation
- Mango Value Chain
- Standard Gauge Railway