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Gender and Political Transformation in Kenya a Case Study.Pdf GENDER AND POLITICAL TRANSFORMATION IN KENYA: A CASE STUDY OF WOMEN IN LUOLAND, 1895-2002. DOROTHY A. NYAKWAKA A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate School in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History of Egerton University EGERTON UNIVERSITY OCTOBER, 2013 COPYRIGHT DOROTHY A. NYAKWAKA All rights reserved. No part of this thesis may be reproduced, stored in an retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the author or Egerton University. © 2012 ii DECLARATION AND APPROVAL DECLARATION BY CANDIDATE This thesis is my original work and has not been presented for examination in any other university. Signature ______________________________ Date __________________ Dorothy A. Nyakwaka Admission No 11/0194/07 APPROVAL BY SUPERVISORS This thesis has been submitted for examination with our approval as the University supervisors Signature ______________________________ Date __________________ Prof. Mildred J. Ndeda Department of History, Religion and Philosophy, Jaramogi Oginga University, BONDO, Kenya. Signature ______________________________ Date __________________ Prof. Catherine Kitetu Department of Literature, Languages and Linguistics, Egerton University, P.O. Box 536, EGERTON, Kenya. iii DEDICATION To my beloved parents, Mr. Peter A. Nyakwaka and Mrs Philister A. Nyakwaka, for shaping my life, having unwavy confidence in my ability to achieve academically and believing in me. Thank you. To my sons, Jack P. Nyambok Obudho and Joseph W. Maira Obudho: the source of my inspiration. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This thesis would not have been completed without assistance from a number of institutions and individuals. I wish to thank Egerton University for paying my fees and providing a research grant. I aso thank the Council for Research and Development in Africa (CODESRIA) for providing partial grant for this project. I would also like to sincerely thank my two supervisors, Prof. Mildred J. Ndeda and Prof. Catherine Kitetu. Although they are very busy scholars, both of them patiently read through every chapter of this thesis, and offered valuable advice and encouragement. I am greatly indebted to them. I also owe gratitude to Professor Bethwell A. Ogot, the Chancellor of Moi University, who, inspite of his busy schedule, found time to discuss this work with me and to participate in the project as one of my informants. I am also grateful to my colleagues in the Department of History at Egerton University, ( Prof H.S.K Mwaniki, Dr. Josiah Osamba, Prof. Reuben Matheka, Dr. Isaac Tarus, Dr. Daniel Kandagor and Mr. Evans Kiigi) for shouldering my teaching load while I was studying. My special thanks go to my office-mate, Dr. Kerata Babere Chacha, for discussions on genders issues and for sharing his books and articles with me. I also owe gratitude to my research assistant, Gordon Onyango Omenya, and the staffs of the various resource centres where I collected data for this study. The centres include the Kenya National Archives and all the major libraries in Kenya. Special thanks are also due to Mr. Allam Kago for meticulously typing this work, Professor Felicia A. Yieke and Prof Reuben Matheka for editing it, and Mr Samuel Ojode for drawing the maps. I am also grateful to my brothers and sisters,(Tony, Sippy, Ben, Monica, Alphonce and John Mark) for moral support and encouragement. Finally, I dedicate this thesis to my beloved parents, Mr. Peter A. Nyakwaka and Mrs Philister A. Nyakwaka, for walking with me in my academic journey. This work is also dedicated to my sons, Jack Peter Nyambok Obudho and Joseph Walter Maira Obudho. Thank you for giving me the much-needed peace, support and encouragement when studying and writing this thesis and may God bless you. v ABSTRACT The impact of colonialism on African women and the transformation of their roles in the social, economic and political spheres has been the focus of many Africanist scholars. However, most of the works focus on African women generally. The current study specifically, focuses on Luo women in Kenya. It is an inquiry into the gendered political transformation the Luo have undergone from 1895 – 2002. It specifically analyses the role of women in pre-colonial Luo society. It also examines how the integration of the Luo community into the colonial system impacted on women. It further discusses how colonialism marginalised the women and how the independent Kenyan state has continued with the same legacy. The study has included the voices of the the few female political leaders such as; Grace Onyango, Phoebe Asiyo, Grace Ogot, Mama Uhuru: Magdalene Aboge Alila, Caroline Oguta and Roseline Aricho in the struggle against political marginalisation. Finally, it analyses the democratic transition in Kenya and how it impacted on Luo women.The study used two theoretical frameworks to interrogate the objectives. The liberal feminism and gender theory were used as tools of historical analysis. The two perspectives captured the roles of women in the period under study. The perspectives show how the gender roles were transformed, historically and culturally over time. The theories were used to show how the few women who challenged marginalisation worked within the societal structures to bring about changes for the women. The women politicians worked to change policies and to introduce new strategies such as Affirmative Action so as to have women integrated into national politics.The study is based on data from both primary and secondary sources. The data was analysed using the theoretical tools to explain the gendered political transformatoin that has taken place in Luoland.The study established that in the pre-colonal Luo society, women were actively involved in every aspect of the societal life, that is, social, economic and political. The political was closely fused with the economic and social spheres. Medicine women and prophetess for example made decisions that impacted the whole community. This fused version of politics would end with the integration of the Luo society and the colonial state, whereby the public sphere and domestic sphere were divided, thus locking women out of politics. The marginalisation of women in politics is as a result of a combination of factors; namely, colonial legacy, lack of education, lack of funds, political violence and abuse, and party-politics to mention but just a few. The study findings show a paucity of women in political positions, reflecting the existence of an unfavourable climate for women’s political initiative. In addition, it reveals that the democratisation process, beginning with the introduction of multiparty politics in 1991 has not, empowered Luo women in terms of political gains. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS COPYRIGHT ....................................................................................................................... ii DECLARATION AND APPROVAL ................................................................................iii DEDICATION .................................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................. v ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ vi TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES .............................................................................................................. ix LIST OF MAPS .................................................................................................................. ix LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................................. x GLOSSARY OF TERMS .................................................................................................. xii CHAPTER ONE .................................................................................................................. 1 INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................... 1 1.0 Background to the Study ....................................................................................... 1 1.1 Area of Study ........................................................................................................ 3 1.2 Statement of the Problem ...................................................................................... 3 1.3 Objectives of the Study ......................................................................................... 4 1.4 Research Premises ................................................................................................. 4 1.5 Justification of the Study ....................................................................................... 5 1.6 Literature Review .................................................................................................. 6 1.7 Theoretical Framework ....................................................................................... 14 1.8 Scope and Limitation .......................................................................................... 18 1.9 Methodology ....................................................................................................... 19 CHAPTER TWO ..............................................................................................................
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