A Case of Mixed Fortunes for Kenyan Women
Justus A.M. MUTIE (Kenya)
Historically, the social-cultural values of Kenyan Women have underlined the need tocome together and assist one another over the years since the time of the colonial period(between 1900 and 1963). The trend has been changing due to the diversity ofcommunity activities shaped by emerging development challenges and the need tobroaden the scope of women’s activities into new frontiers. A case in point is thedevelopment work undertaken by community based women groups which are traceable
to the early 1950s.
In Kenya, like in many other sub-Sahara African areas, women join together ingroups for a common purpose for socio-economic survival and the advancement of its
members. Usually such groups spring up spontaneously, and over the years, they havemaintained a high degree of informality.
They are small, mainly community based and mostly integrated in the larger
tradition of self-help which places high value on collective action. In Kenya, women
have a long tradition of helping each other through mutual social support systems. The
existence of many community-based women groups is firmly based on mutual social
responsibility and accountability as well as the pooling of resources towards capitalformation targets and resource mobilization for a common goal.
Prior to independence in 1963, the colonial state, together with various faith basedorganizations, promoted and encouraged the formation of women clubs/groups. The
groups started from 1950s with the ultimate goal of informally training women toacquire new skills essential to their participation and promotion of their reproductive
and community management roles. They were taught skills in sewing; cookery; knitting
and embroidery; childcare and general sanitation; nutrition and hygiene. The role ofthese groups was to educate women in modern domestic chores and expand immediatefamilies in the community.
Soon after, these initiatives attracted African women of Kenyan descent to establish
Maendeleo ya Wanawake (Progress of Women) organization in 1952, the first umbrella
women’s organization. Created as a non-governmental organization with the aim ofuplifting the standard of living of its members, it later acquired its current national

status as a grass-root driven women’s organization. Other women’s organizations dating
to that period include young women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and affiliatedreligious, professional and non-racial groups.
The social/ family/ welfare orientation has persisted over the years in terms ofactivities undertaken as well as in terms of objectivity and purpose of community based
groups. However, with cash economy gradually becoming the order of the day, women’s
needs and roles have increased, compelling community based groups to embark on
income generating activities and capital formation targets. All of these activities andtargets trace their roots to women’s traditional tasks within the household, such as,farming, food production, trading and handicrafts. For a long time these activities haveprevailed and were carried out by group members collectively as group projects.
Since the mid-1980s, studies have revealed that actual cash incomes generated bycommunity based women groups expanded into new frontiers, such as, real estate andsaving capital mobilization. Although beset by teething problems such as choice ofactivities, illiteracy, inefficient leadership, this has not stopped community based
groups from undertaking activities.
In recent times, socio-economic changes have offered new opportunities and income
generation has led to the rapid growth of small scale enterprises run and managed by
women. Nevertheless, welfare and business orientations are still interwoven incommunity activities.
The groups’ original objectives have also changed to accommodate the rapid politicaland socio economic dimensions. The majority of the groups can be described ascommunity activity driven formed with the motive of building women’s capacity to help
themselves by undertaking programs or projects that have direct impact on their lives
and communities.
In a survey carried out by the Women’s Bureau-The National Machinery foradvancing status of women in 1992 indicated that there were 23,614 community womengroups with a membership of an estimated 3 million countrywide. The survey further
showed that whereas there were a handful of such groups by the end of 1960, half of thegroups had been formed by 1981. During the interviewing period between the firstworld women’s conference held in Mexico City, Mexico in 1975 and the end of firstdecade of women in 1985, community based groups engaged in a wide range of activities
and have grown by leaps and bounds.
Government of Kenya has recognized the contribution of community activity groups
to development. The government has also co-opted these groups’ programs into theNational Development framework. According to the 1991 Community Activity Group
Promotion Development Policy Guidelines, updated in 1999, the government promotes
group formation and mobilization as a strategy for ensuring self-reliance andmobilization of community efforts to meet collective needs, such as, water, health care,social infrastructure as well as general urban and rural development.
Overall, a 2006 economic survey in Kenya forecasted that activities by community
groups contributed to the GDP an amount of Kenya shillings 54 million annually,equivalent to U$ 7.5 million or JPY 8.7 million. This is a sound indicator of economic
empowerment.
On the political front, however, women account for over 51% of the population they
are year over 51% of the population they are yet to realize their benefits of thenumerical strength. This is due to overriding factors of patriarchal society that continue
to affect institutional and human factors that hinder advancement of women. The net
result is that women account for 4.8% of elected members to the National Assembly and13.3% in civic authorities.
Besides numerical characteristics of political representation, there is often equallyimportant question of participation where such participation includes being consulted.
There is need of governance mechanisms that ensure accountability by all range ofdecision makers to promote best governance practices including participatory
management to achieve social justice.

Photo: Community Activity Groups to deliberate on Groups Promotion