The Role of Women in Water Management in Manga Sub- County of Nyamira County, Kenya

Abstract

Water is an essential commodity for socio-economic development and its management is key in the realization of its sustainability. Men and women have different roles in water management and the study sought to establish the role of women in water management and the challenges they face. The study was conducted in Manga Sub County, Nyamira County. The study used a qualitative approach to explore the roles and challenges women face in water management. The relevance of the approach was to yield subjective experiences of women in water management. Guided by implicit gender roles theory, qualitative data was obtained through semi-structured interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Analysis was conducted through thematic and content analysis. The findings show that women are majorly involved in supplying households with water. Resultantly, and by the gender role, they are vested with the role of storage, managing water use, and water treatment. Women are also involved in community water management initiative including communal work on water resource management. However, in the statutory water committees, women’s participation is not felt at this decision-making level. The study concludes that lack of women’s participation in water management is a function of gender roles and traditional gender inequalities that serve to justify and promote discrimination along the gender dimension. The study therefore recommends that water policies recognize the potential in women’s participation in water management and enhance their capacity in managing water not only at domestic level but also at statutory level.