Gender inclusivity in agricultural cooperatives in Kiambu County, Kenya

Abstract

While agricultural cooperatives are noted to hold a unique potential to foster gender equality in line with the Sustainable Development Goals, gender disparities have persisted agricultural cooperatives in different value chains. This study thus analyses gender inclusivity in agricultural cooperatives in Kiambu County, guided by Erikson's Social-Ecological Model and Feminist Political Ecology. The study adopted a mixed-methods research design. The target population for the study included a total of 18,963 members of dairy and coffee agricultural cooperatives in Kiambu County. The study sampled 303 respondents using simple random sampling procedure while purposive sampling was used to select Key informants. Data was gathered using questionnaires, Focus Group Discussions and key informant interviews. STATA software was used to analyze quantitative data while NVivo software was used to analyze qualitative data. Findings reveal there is under representation of women in cooperative management boards. Cultural norms were the main barrier to women's ascendancy into leadership roles. The study concluded that gender-neutral opportunities for involvement exist within agricultural cooperatives, showcasing a parallel trend across the sector. The study recommends that agricultural cooperatives in Kiambu County adopt specific policies to increase women’s representation in leadership roles by setting gender quotas and providing leadership training for women members.