Gender Issues in Tree Growing in Bondo and Siaya Sub-Counties, Siaya County

Gender roles are socially constructed, dynamic, learned, and complex and they differ within and between cultures. Gender demarcates responsibilities between men and women in: social and economic activities, access to resources, services and decision making authority. Conditions of women differ from one society to another but generally, women experience subordination from men. Women are involved in many activities like washing of clothes, cooking, rearing of children and taking care of farms among other roles and may prevent them from engaging in growing of trees as opposed to men. The main objective of this study was to determine if tree growing in Siaya County is influenced by gender issues. A cross-sectional survey research design was used involving 280 respondents drawn from 20 chief’s barazas in Bondo and Siaya sub-counties. They included; 120 household heads, 40 key informants, 4 women groups and Luo council of elders. Qualitative data generated was analysed using SPSS resulting in tables, and percentages. A 24hours gender daily calendar was drawn to confirm the various workloads of men and women. The study concludes that gender (various roles assigned to different sexes) has no influence on tree growing. Women should be capacity built to include aspect of tree growing amongst other chores they undertake on daily basis.