Devolution and Gender Responsive Service Delivery in Kenya: A Gender Analysis of Siaya County

Abstract

Kenya adopted a devolved system of government after adopting of a new constitution in 2010. The devolved system of governance took effect with the formation of County governments after a general election in 2013. This study examined the extent to which devolved services are gender responsive, taking the case of Siaya County. The main objective of the study was to establish the gender responsiveness of the services offered by Siaya County government. Specifically, the study conducted a gender analysis of the socioeconomic challenges in Siaya County, including food insecurity, unemployment/ underemployment, water, sanitation and health; and a gender analysis of the County budget. This study established that challenges such as food insecurity, unemployment/underemployment, water, sanitation and health affect women more than men. The study further found that the funding of these challenges is inadequate, and even though health received a bigger allocation than the other issues, the bulk of the allocation goes into salaries and recurrent expenditure. Based on these findings, the study recommends that the County government of Siaya invests more in easing these challenges for women.