Influence of selected socio-cultural factors on gender participation in management of water projects in Njoro Sub-County, Nakuru Kenya

Gender participation is integral for sustainable management of natural resources. Kenya as a country has made great efforts to entrench gender equity policies in public management positions, but there have been challenges derailing operationalization of the gender policies. When water management enter public domain women are usually under-represented in decision-making positions. Despite the role played by women in water resource management and the efforts that the government has made in enhancing women’s participation in management of water resources there appears to be an existing gender gap between policy and practice. The main purpose of this study was to examine this gap specifically, to examine the influence of selected socio-cultural factors on gender participation in the management of water projects in Njoro Sub-county. The study used ex post facto research design and two theoretical frameworks culture theory and crommunity participation theory. Purposive and stratified random sampling procedure were used to select 212 participants in three management categories (community,church and NARWASCO). Four divisional water officers were included in the study as key informants. Data was collected using interview schedule and questionnaire. Reliablity of the instruments was estimated using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient formulae and was found to be 0.819. This was an indication that the instruments attained a reliability coefficient above the required threshold and were therefore deemed as acceptable and suitable. The data obtained was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (ordered logistic regression). The study results indicate that two-thirds gender rule with P value of 0.041, land tenure with P value of 0.036, level of education with P value of 0.000, and gender roles with P value of 0.001 had statistical significant influence on gender participation in management of the water projects at 5% level of significance. The results implies that two-thirdss gender rule, land ownership, level of education and gender roles load influenced social power to negotiate for membership and decision making positions in management of water projects. Landownership was the main hinderance in achieving two-thirdss gender rule since it was the main criteria for membership. The findings of the study may be used by stakeholders in water management to ensure that integration of gender perspective in the project cycle and address socio-cultural factors affecting gender inequality. This study recommends that water projects should have affirmative action in their project by-laws in order to ensure two-thirds gender rule is fully operationalized.This will ensure that women practical and strategic needs on water are realized.