Effects of Gender Inequality in Resource Ownership and Access on Household Welfare and Food Security in Kenya : A Case Study of West Pokot District

This volume has one broad objective: to assess gender-based inequalities with respect to access to and control of land, financial and human capital and how these factors affect household welfare, and food security in Kenya. It gives an insight into the negative effects of gender inequality in resource ownership and access that manifest themselves at the micro level and that can have significant negative impacts at the macro level. The study was conducted in West Pokot, a rural district that lies in the North West of Kenya. The quantitative analysis deals with a wide range of farm household dynamics ranging from returns to farm and non farm activities, technical efficiency analysis in crop production in male and female managed farms, determinants of food security as well as nutrition and health status of children. Female headed households were much more constrained in their access to land, education and income, which showed a significant negative impact on their livelihood and food security. The research concludes that access to land, human capital and finances have an impact on the overall household wellbeing and food security.