DETERMINANTS OF GENDER INEQUALITY IN PUBLIC SERVICE DELIVERY IN THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT OF NYERI, KENYA
Virginia Nyambura Mbugua - Student, Masters of Public Policy and Administration of Kenyatta University, Kenya
Dr. Jane Gakenia Njoroge - Lecturer, Public Policy and Administration, Kenyatta University, Kenya
ABSTRACT
Gender inequality has been a contemporary issue globally. Its effect on women contribution to national development agenda has been an area of concern for public service delivery in most countries. The delivery, resourcing and governing of public services is important to the female gender. Care services given and funded by the state are an indication of a positive development towards gender equality for women. In order to realize a positive economic and social development, delivery of public services must be gender-sensitive, hence promoting the exchange of good practices with regards to women inclusion in public administration and governance.Current government programs that address inequalities of gender in Africa seek to improve primary health care, education as well as job conditions. Nevertheless, serious socio-cultural conditions and limitations challenge their implementation. The objective of this study was to assess the determinants of gender inequality in public service delivery in the County Government of Nyeri. The specific objectives guiding the study included: to determine the influence of professional skills, governance, culture and constitutional provisions for gender inequality on public service delivery through the case of the county government of Nyeri. The guiding theories included complexity, feminist and the theory of equity. Literature review guided the formulation of constructs and conceptualization of the study. The research used both quantitative and qualitative data. Descriptive research was adopted while the target population composed 49 county government employees in senior administrative levels. Due to the small size of the population, the census sampling method was utilized and the sample size shall be 49 respondents. Questionnaires were used as data collection tools and tested for validity and reliability through piloting. Data analysis was carried out through a statistical approach of frequencies, standard deviation and means using Statistical Package for Social Sciences based on the objectives of the study. Data was illustrated in the form of histograms, pie charts, frequency tables and bar charts. Findings indicated that there was a low influence of gender inequality in professional skills, right from education, training and capacity development on public service delivery. Importantly, the study established significant relationships between governance practices including composition of staff in departments and leadership roles. There was further significant relationship between cultural practices and compliance to constitutional provisions for gender inequality and public service delivery, with the public service board not complying to the 2/3 gender rule in all county departments. The study thus concluded that governance practices, cultural practices and compliance with constitutional provisions had significant influence on public service delivery at the County Government of Nyeri. Upon the study findings and conclusions, it was recommended that first, the public service board should review the composition of staff in order to improve gender equity at all offices. The leadership should further advocate for equity in staff promotions and engagement of women in higher offices and ensure their contribution is felt in decision making. Further recommendation was a study to establish the influence of women self-efficacy on leadership roles in public service.
