Gender relations in forest governance and use of forest resources within Cherangany Hills forest, Kenya

Abstract

Existing studies demonstrate that men and women from forest adjacent communities not only collaborate with other stakeholders in forest governance but also have roles, decision making powers and rights over the use of forest resources. However, there is scanty information about power relations between spouses engaging in forest governance and use of forest resources within state-managed forests in Kenya. To bridge this knowledge gap, this study assessed intra-household gender relations in forest governance and use of forest resources within Cherangany Hills Forest, Kenya. The specific objectives were to: assess the nature and extent of involvement of husbands and wives in Community Forest Association (CFA) activities; analyze the decision making powers, roles and rights of husbands and wives over the use of forest resources; examine the implication of involvement of husbands and wives in CFA activities on livelihoods; and assess the constraints and opportunities for husbands and wives engaging in CFA activities. This study was guided by the ‘Typology of Participation’ model, Theory of Feminist Political Ecology, and the ‘Gender-Box’ theoretical framework. Drawing upon the premises of the post positivist research philosophy and mixed-method research approach, a concurrent triangulation research design was adopted. A household sample size of 280 (140 male and 140 female) CFA members was randomly selected and 35 key respondents (20 CFA members, 7 CFA leaders, 2 village elders, 2 assistant chiefs, 2 forest guards and 2 forest officers) were purposively sampled. Primary data was collected by administering semi-structured questionnaires and conducting key informant interviews. The mean and standard deviation were used to analyze quantitative data and presented as frequencies, percentages, tables and graphs while qualitative data was analyzed thematically and presented as synthesized text. It was revealed that both husbands and wives engaged substantially in forest governance through payment of CFA subscription fees, attendance of CFA meetings, reforestation and forest protection. It was confirmed that husbands and wives shared decision making powers, roles and rights to a great extent during crop farming as well as grazing of the livestock within the forest. The engagement of both male and female spouses in CFA activities contributed substantially to food access, livestock feeds and herbal medicine. Time constraints significantly restricted both husbands and wives from attending CFA meetings and seeking CFA leadership posts while gender norms of behaviour discouraged them from using forest resources. This study concludes that there was substantial collaborative gender relation between husbands and wives during payment of CFA fees, attendance of CFA meetings, engagement in reforestation and forest protection as well as decision making over use of forest land for crop farming and source of livestock feeds. Forest policy makers, practitioners and researchers should apply other research philosophical paradigms, theoretical models and research approaches to examine the implications of intra-household gender relations in forest governance and use of forest resources on livelihoods in other geographical area