| dc.description.abstract | Women groups in Ngong division are one of the strategies that women use for both economic empowerment and improvement of their roles performance. Traditionally during the Precolonial period, reciprocal labour assistance groups existed among both the Maasai and the Agikuyu who are the subjects of this study. These work groups ensured that women performed their roles more efficiently and completed tasks in time.
During the colonial days there emerged a change and shifted from the traditional barter market economies to the world monetary economy. African's labour was commercialized, initially for payment of colonial taxes; Livestock and agricultural products were also commercialized and individualization of land that was traditionally owned communally set in (Kituyi, 1990). These changes affected the traditional social organization. As men moved to urban centres and settlers farms for wage labour, women were left to perform some of the roles that traditionally belonged to men. Such roles include herding of livestock, heading households (as de facto heads), Construction of houses and the hard farming tasks among others. Women takeover of
these roles led to an increase in their workload. On the other hand, as men's labour gained monetary value in the market economy, women's labour, which was on a subsistence level,was devalued, resulting to their relegation to a low socio-economic status.Kipuri (1989) maintains that, though Kenya gained her political independence in 1963, the modern state did not represent a significant break from the colonial administration. It only perpetuated the structure and form of the colonial government. The modern state undermined indigenous structures for national development purposes, but did not destroy them. This fact explains the existence of some traditional survivals such as women groups activities, though in a deformed manner. The then head of state adopted the National motto of 'Harambee" which was in line with the traditional assistance work groups. Its aim was to achieve collective effort,
cooperative enterprises and all forms of self-reliant endeavours in the country. In the area of those study endeavours included reciprocal labour assistance work groups in farm work and firewood collection; Income generating activities such as livestock rearing; acquisition of group farms; operation of flour mills; sale of charcoal and consumer goods and kiosks operation among others - Group members were further involved in merry - go- rounds, through which they purchased for each other on a rotational basis household items, water tanks, improved house structure or gave cash to the beneficiary for payment of school fee or meet other financial needs. In resource acquisition activities groups either purchased or were allocated by the government agricultural land or commercial plots.In 1970s Kajiado district saw the commencement of registration of women groups, though at a low note. By 1984, the number had increased to 206 groups. As from 1985, following the Nairobi International women conference, the number began to shoot up. By 1989, there were 437 registered women groups in Kajiado districts. An increase of 112% from the 1984 figure. The probable explanation to this increase could be attributed to the prevailing radical feminism, which acted as a catalyst in the sensitization of women in competition for the diminishing resources. In the area of study, introduction of the universal monetary economy
had replaced the indigenous pastoral economy in the district. The pastoral Maasai had been pushed to the more arid land to create room for the white settlers, while some of their remaining pockets of the fertile land had seen purchased by their Gikuyu neighbours for settlements and agricultural farming. Among the Maasai, economic competition was further extended to social-differentiation between men and women, elders and juniors (Kipuri, 1989). Women found their identity through formation of women groups through which they assisted each other. The apparent increase in number of women groups in Kajiado district was a striking phenomenon, which evoked interest to find out how women groups activities had impacted on members roles and status. Of major concern was how the activities had impacted on women's
heavy workloads, access to the limited resources, emotional insecurity and development stagnation.The study was designed to answer the following questions:
How does cultural background, ecology and the market situation influence choice and participation in different women groups activitiesUpon participation, how do group activities ease members' role performance?
How has participation improved members' socio-economic status?
Objectives Of The Study
The study's objectives were:
• To assess the influence of socio-cultural, ecological and market situation on
women's choice and participation in different groups' activities.
• Assess the impact of women groups activities on members roles and status .
Methods of data collection
Different methods of data collection were used. Survey method, using standard interview
schedule was used as the main research tool in the study. A total of 130 standard
questionnaires consisting of 65 questions, both closed and open ended, were administered to both officials and ordinary members of 55 different women groups in the four locations of Ngong division.To fill in the gaps of information left out by the standard questionnaire, subsidiary research methods in form of focus group discussions, key informants and non-participant direct observations were used. Focus group discussions were held with leaders of the 5 amalgamated women groups in the division.Key informants consisted ofMaendeleo Ya Wanawake organization divisional representatives and the Netherlands Development organization representative women advisor Kajiado district ASAL programme. Other main key informants included divisional assistant officers in community development, social work, cooperative and agriculture. Extra information that could not be obtained verbally was obtained through non-participant observation method. Research Findings
In the study, 3 hypothesis were tested using both descriptive (percentages) and inferential statistics in form of chi-square (X2) test, for tests of associations between variables. Multiple regression analysis was further used for hypothesis three (H3) to measure correlation between dependent variables and each of the independent variables.In hypothesis 1, it was hypothesized that "women group activities enhanced efficiency of members' role performance and reduced their workload." Reciprocal labour assistance and merry-go-rounds were considered as the key activities under this hypothesis. From a total of 130 members that were interviewed, 81% (105) reported to have had a heavy work load, with an average of 12lh working hours being spent on both domestic and occupational roles. Fuel wood and water provisions were said to be the most time consuming roles. In North and South Keekonyokie, 14 hours were spent per day to provide 20 litres of water. On average 8 hours (in the 4 locations) were spent per day for provision of a bundle of fire wood.To cope with the heavy workload, group members were involved in reciprocal labour assistance in fuel wood collection and farm work. Others got free assistance from fellow members during times of need.
From the calculated X2 value of 6.355, a significant statistical association between members participation in reciprocal labour assistance to reduce workload was obtained. The X2 value was significant at 98.8 % confidence level. The working hypothesis was therefore accepted. Merry-go-rounds were also cited as an important activity in enhancement of roles performance by 51.5% (67) of the members. The calculated X2 value of 6.43 was significant at 99% confidence level. This indicated a positive statistical association between members participation in merry-go-rounds to enhance roles performance. Therefore, acceptance of working hypothesis.
In hypothesis two (H2), it was hypothesized that "women groups activities improve members'socio-economic status." The key activities that were considered under this hypothesis wereincome generating and resource acquisition in form of agricultural land and commercial plots.From the 130 respondents, 60% (78) were involved in income generating activities in form of livestock rearing, farming projects, building constructions among other small businesses.However from the 60%, only 51.5% (67) participated in income generating activities with the aim of improving their socio-economic status. 8.5% participated with the aim of enhancing roles performance particularly in households food security. The calculated X2 value of 4.780 indicated a positive insignificant statistical relationship between participation in income generating activities and improvement of socio-economic status. The X2 value was not significant at 71.2% confidence level, of 95%. While statistically the null hypothesis was accepted, the 51.5% of the participants in the activity for improvement of socio-economic
status mean that the activity cannot be totally ignored. Other factors such as respondents educational level, job placement and spouse's scale of income could have had more impact in their economic status.A total of 50% (65) members stated that, they had improved their economic status through acquisition of resources in form of agricultural lands and commercial plots. From these resources, they said to have reduced poverty through improvement of household food security, provision of shelter and a source of income. However, there was no statistical significance between participation in resource acquisition and improvement of members economic status. Therefore, the working hypothesis was statistically rejected. In hypothesis 3 (H3) it was hypothesed that, ecology, culture, and the market situation were some of the factors that either facilitated or constrained women groups activities participation.From the statistical association test on choice of participation in income generating activities
as determined by ecology, culture and market suitability, a X2 value of 29.66, significant at 100% confidence level was arrived at. This indicated a non-chance occurrence, therefore accepting the working hypothesis that the 3 factors facilitated participation in income generating activities. The agricultural Gikuyu women lived in the high production zone and were involved in agricultural farming and construction of commercial buildings. Ready market for both their agricultural and pastoral products, as well as commercial buildings was equally available to both groups of women.
Participation in resources acquisition as determined by ecological and cultural factors also indicated a significant statistical association of X2 value 15.072 significant at 99.8%
confidence level. The Gikuyu women who were from a cultural background where women were not expected to own individual land had developed an enterprising group spirit in acquisition of this resource. Being from a highly productive farming zone, and confronted by a land scarcity crisis, the Gikuyu women were the majority in acquisition of this resource. The Maasai women being from a pastoral society where individual ownership of land was not as yet a crisis, were not extensively involved in acquisition of agricultural farming land. Only in North Keekonyokie location, that they had acquired 202 hectares of land for 9 farming project. Acquisition of commercial plots also ranked higher among the Gikuyu women, though this resource was fairly distributed among the Maasai women in the semi-arid zone. The working hypothesis was accepted.
Further statistical association was tested on participation 111 reciprocal labour activities as determined by ecology and culture. While the Maasai women were extensively involved in fuel wood collection reciprocal labour assistance, the Gikuyu women were involved in farm work labour assistance. The calculated X2 value of 13.65, significant at 99.7% confidence level, presented a significant influence of ecology and culture on choice and participation in reciprocal labour assistance activities. Under these factors too, the working hypothesis was accepted.Further statistical analysis using stepwise multiple regression co-efficient on participation in income generating activities was done. Choice of activities that were culturally convenient to both roles and status emerged as the best predictor. It explained 28% of the variation while
operating individually. Ecological suitability of the activities explained 15.5% of the variance, while the market situation explained for 5% of the variance. While operating jointly, the three predictors (cultural convenience, ecological suitability and market suitability) had a joint explained variation (R2) of 48.5%. This meant that while the above three factors were important in choice and participation in income generating activities, there were other factors that were not considered in the study that explained for the remaining 51.5% variation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it can be said that the increased women participation in-group activities in
Ngong division were influenced by the three factors. First the existence of the traditional
assistance work groups among the Maasai and Gikuyu - namely 'Ematonyok and "Gwatio" respectively from the two communities. Secondly, Women's situation approach to the word's economic changes from the traditional barter market to the modern market economy, that emerged during the colonial and post-colonial period.
The third factor was women's response to the modern radical feminism that swept the country as from 1985. Following intervention by international agencies to involve women in the development process, the Canadian government and the Netherlands among others stimulated formation of women groups in Ngong division, as their financial, material and advisory assistance was evident in both North and South Keekonyokie.
Women's participation in groups activities was found to have impacted positively on their roles performance particularly in completion of farm work in time, provision of fuel wood, provision of household items, improvement of shelter structures and water tanks and improvement in household food security. Though statistically groups activities did not appear to have impacted significantly on women's status, qualitative data indicated improvement through their acquisition of both agricultural and commercial land, involvement in income generating activities through businesses, livestock reanng, construction of rental houses
among others. Their participation 111 community projects and public activities helped to
increase their (women's) visibility on the government side as targets of development process. | en |
