This
study aimed at interrogating the implications of gender relations among
indigenous Ogiek on management of Mau Forest in Nakuru County, Kenya to guide
gender mainstreaming in forest management. The study employed cultural
ecofeminist theory which captures relationship between women and the earth,
comparing how women and nature are subordinated by men in patriarchal society.
The study used descriptive survey study design, with sampling arrangement
involving purposive and systematic random sampling methods to choose
seventy-four respondents from the community forest associations (CFAs) within the Mau ecosystem. Data from the indigenous Ogiek
residents were collected using questionnaires while key-in-depth interview
schedule was used to collect data from Ogiek village elders, Kenya Forest
Service Officers, and area chief. Test-retest method was used to test
reliability of research instruments. Quantitative data was analysed using
descriptive statistics. Qualitative data was
analysed establishing patterns, categories, and themes. The findings
showed that there exists traditional gender division of labour underprivileged
by Ogiek patriarchal social structure which influences forest management among
indigenous Ogiek of Mau Forest. The findings further revealed that the forest
legal framework in Kenya especially the Kenya Constitution 2010, Forest Policy
2014 and Forest Act 2016 are gender blind. Further, Community Forests Associations
face gender equality deficit in representation where indigenous Ogiek women are
subordinated due to cultural setup of Ogiek which prioritises men
over women in leadership. The study recommends that
the indigenous Ogiek women should be sensitized to join and actively be part of
the CFAs. Forest empowerment interventions should consider gender roles which
constrain indigenous Ogiek women from participating in forest reform
activities. Lastly, CFAs institute measures on equality in forest resource
exploitation and benefits sharing while alive to cultural constraints affecting
indigenous Ogiek men and women.
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