Gender perspective in rural land access & control: the case of Bunyala District, western Kenya
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Date
2008-09
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Kampala International University. College of Economics & Management
Abstract
This research arose from the popular assumptions that rural women contribute greatly to
the economy through agricultural activities but have little access and control to land.
Thus the study attempted to empirically examine the issue of gender perspective in rural
land access and control. The study was specifically designed to examine the factors that
determine one’s access to ownership and control over rural land in Bunyala district,
western Kenya, to examine the major gender roles on rural land access and control, to
discuss the influence of the customary perceptions on rural land access and control and to
come up with possible suggestions for inequality to gender access and control over rural
land access and control. The study adopted descriptive research design that manifested
both qualitatively and quantitatively. The population sample was 388 from Bunyala East,
West and North. ~Respondents were selected basically through purposive sampling,
stratified, snowball and simple sampling. The instruments included the questionnaires,
interview guides, observation and documentation. Data processing and analysis was
guided by the research objectives. Qualitative data was dissected under the research
themes. Calculations was done on the quantitative information and percentages made
after which it was presented in tables and figures. It was revealed that location
differences existed gender access and control to land due to variations in demographic,
social, economic, cultural, ethnic and historic developments within the Locations studied,
and also depending on the available good land for farming practices. Gender access and
control to rural land in the Bunyala District were affected by factors such as: gender, land
ownership, the patrilineal inheritance system, local traditions and customs, decision~
making powers, perceptions, marital status, land disputes, resource position of the
individual. Other factors such as knowledge of land legislations and education were
expected to have a positive impact on men’s and women’s access and control to land, but
could not be proven by the study. Recommendations were made to; Promote gender
equity in access and control to land, improve the socio-economic status of women,
strengthen women’s capacities to obtain and defend their land rights, transform socio..
cultural norms, transform traditional legal system and to Increase the utilization of the
existing legal legislation, legal Aid and legal services.
Description
A thesis submitted to post graduate school in partial Fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of master of development Administration and management of Kampala international University
Keywords
Rural land access