FACTORS AFFECTING THE ROLE OF MEN IN SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN NDARAGWA SUB-COUNTY, NYANDARUA COUNTY,KENYA

Abstract

For the last two decades, Kenyan men residing in the rural areas have undergone the process of reversed empowerment. Dis-empowerment in this context is inferred as a process that culminated in men losing power over the circumstances in their lives, largely because of changes in livelihoods. This has led to impairment in their self-esteem and a decrease in their capacity to conquer barriers to self-actualization.(Amuyunzu,and Francis,2006). The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors affecting men’s roles in socio-economic development in their rural areas, in Nyandarua County, Ndaragwa Sub-county. This study has discussed various aspects that are crucial in undertaking a research, this study was specifically guided by the following objectives; (i) To examine the effects of collapse in livelihoods on the role of men in social economic development at Ndaragwa sub-county. .(ii)To explore the socio-cultural factors affecting the role of men in socio-economic development at Ndaragwa sub-County.(iii)To assess the effects of women empowerment policies on men’s role in socio-economic development at Ndaragwa sub-county. The study was informed by two theories: Social role theory and Gender Schema Theory. Social role theory stated that individuals socially known as men and women tend to perform different roles ascribed by structures within a society and are judged against a raft of divergent expectations for how they ought to behave. Gender Schema Theory shows that individuals are engendered in society, and how sex-linked behaviors are transmitted and maintained to other members of the same culture. This study was conducted in Nyandarua County, Ndaragwa Sub-county. It employed a survey study design, it comprised of a sample size of 200 respondents who were sampled through a cluster sampling method. The main data collection tool was questionnaire and interview schedule for key informants. The Data was analyzed by use of descriptive statistics where data was presented in the form of charts and tables. The study seeks to inform men and gender policy makers on socio-economic challenges facing men, in order to assist men in overcoming their challenges and hence be able to engage effectively in socio-economic activities in the rural areas. Some of the findings for the study are that only 38.5% of men are bread winners. This shows that 50% of men in Ndaragwa Sub-county do not fulfill their role as bread winners. Majority of respondents, 60.34% felt that women empowerment had affected men’s socio-economic roles in their families. Finally on recommendations there is a need to include poor men of age bracket of 40-60 years of age in empowerment development programs. There is a need to come up with empowerment programs targeting men capacity to build alternative livelihoods that overcome the stress and shocks of collapsed traditional socio-economic activities.