GENDER ROLES IN FISHING LIVELIHOODS: A CASE OF LAKE BARINGO COMMUNITY, BARINGO COUNTY-KENYA

Abstract

The role and contribution of the fisheries sub-sector in Kenya’s fishing communities cannot be underestimated. To ensure sustainable fisheries livelihoods, the Government has developed Fisheries Beach Management Units (BMUs) regulations. The demand for fish has motivated men and women to get involved in fishing activities, which include harvesting, processing and marketing. Lack of gender-disaggregated data makes it difficult to establish whether it is the women or men who contribute to the fishing livelihoods and also it makes it hard to understand gender-based constraints that need to be addressed. The purpose of this study was to establish and assess the participation of women and men in fisheries and to determine their roles in fishing livelihood. The specific objectives of the study were to establish gender roles in fishing livelihood, to determine gender factors that influence practices in the fishing livelihood, and to investigate the coping strategies used by participants in fishing livelihood of the Lake Baringo fishing community. The study is a cross-sectional survey carried out in a field setting. The Kampi ya Samaki Beach Management Unit (BMU) was purposively selected because it has three landing sites (Kampi ya Samaki, Ngenyin and Ol’Kwoko). The BMU had prominence of landing sites for both traditional and commercial fishing activities, accessibility by fishers for their livelihood, use for other livelihood activities by the community, and active gender involvement in fishing activities. A multistage sampling procedure and purposive selection of respondents resulted to a total of nine (9) men and twelve (12) women. Data collection involved a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods that were designed to support and inform each other. Data was collected using interview schedules, topical guides, observation checklists, and an open-ended questionnaire. The data was checked for consistency and arranged thematically to enable analysis through triangulation and content analysis. The key findings of this study indicate that women and men have clear and defined roles in fishing livelihood that are not culturally but rather socially influenced, face various constraints that affect their participation in fishing activities, and they engage in alternative income generating activities as adaptive responses to reduce their vulnerability. Further, the study revealed there is insufficient knowledge in fish quality and value addition and BMU fishery policy objectives have not been implemented fully because of lack of full access and control of assets by the fishing community. The study revealed that there is need for review and rapid implementation of the BMU Policy, adoption of modern practices in fish value addition, and introduction of programmes that would ensure equitable access to financial resources by both genders. Information generated by this study is important in guiding policy makers, BMUs and the fishing communities to identify points of interventions as well as to develop effective, efficient and sustainable programs that would support the fishing communities, towards attaining Kenya Vision 2030 and sustainable development