Changing Gender Roles In The Fishing Industry In Homa Bay County, Kenya 1900 To 2012: A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Fishing Is One Of The Oldest Occupations Of Mankind. Studies Done On Gender Roles In The

Fishing Industry In Lake Victoria In Kenya Indicate That Traditionally, Both Men And Women

Were Involved In Fisheries But Each Performed Different Roles Which Were Culturally Defined.

This Study Focused On The Fishing Industry In Lake Victoria Specifically Kendu Bay And

Homa Lime Fishing Bays Located In Homa Bay County Of Kenya. The Development Of

Fisheries In Homa Bay County Is Faced With Several Challenges Such As Lake Pollution,

Extinction Of Certain Indigenous Species, Overfishing, And Environmental Destruction Including

The Water Hyacinth. These Problems Have Been Located In The Social, Economic And Political

Systems That Existed In The Pre-Colonial, Colonial And Post Colonial Times From 1900 – 2012.

The Luo Fishers Had Their Own Indigenous Techniques Of Fishing, Methods Of Preservation And

Systems Of Management. The Objectives Of The Study Were To Describe The Nature And Patterns

Of The Changing Gender Roles In The Fisheries In Homa Bay County, Determine The Major

Factors That Influence The Gender Roles And Establish The Challenges Faced By The Fishers. The

Study Used The Historical Method To Evaluate And Analyse Data Obtained From Both Primary And

Secondary Sources. Primary Data Was Obtained From The Kenya National Archives And From

Various Government Reports On Fisheries Development In Kenya. Data Was Also Gathered From

Oral Interviews With Relevant Respondents Including Boat Crew, Engine Owners, Fishermen, Fish

Traders, Retired Fisherfolk, Kiosk Owners And Beach Management Unit Officials. Secondary

Data Was Obtained From Books, Journal Articles, And The Internet And Newspaper Articles In

Relation To Fisheries. The Study Employed The Theory Of Feminism To Demonstrate How Men And

Women Should Complement Each Other In Their Specific Roles In Order To Achieve Their Goals

Since Both Are Users Of The Fish Product. The Study Established That During The Pre-Colonial

Period There Was Plenty Of Indigenous Fish Which Was Mainly For Subsistence. Barter Trade

Was Conducted At Local And Regional Markets. The Fishing Industry Witnessed Many Changes

During The Colonisation Of Kenya Such As New Fishing Nets, Motorised Boats, New Fishing

Regulations And The Introduction Of Different Fish Species.The Findings Of The Study Are As

Follows: The Small Scale Fishers Continued To Struggle To Survive Commercially Yet Remained

Voiceless And Marginalised. Lack Of Capital Left Most Retail Fishers Poor While The Rich Fishers

Prospered. The Experiences Of The Fishers In Homa Bay County As Spelt Out In This Study Could

Be Used By Policy Makers In The Fisheries Sector To Come Up With Strategies That Could Include All Fishers In Order To Solve The Problems Affecting The Lake Victoria Fisheries.