Men in Kenya spent more time on non-productive activities than women, a time-use report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) has established.
According to the first of its kind report in Kenya, men spend 16 hours and 12 minutes per day on non-productive activities- which KNBS noted include learning, socialization, communication, religious practices, leisure, mass media, community participation and sports.
On their part, women spend 63.5%, translating to 15 hours, 12 minutes on non-productive activities.
Additionally, the report established that women spent an average of 18.7% of time on unpaid care and domestic work, which is equivalent to 4 hrs.30 mins in a day.
Men, on the other hand, spent 54 mins, or 3.6% of a day in unpaid care, implying that women spent 3 hours 36 mins more on such activities.
Further, the report established elderly women aged 65 and above spent about 2 hours and 54 minutes on unpaid care compared to men of the same age who spent about 48 minutes on unpaid care.
Working women spend more time on unpaid care, domestic work
The inequality was also evident in the working class with the report indicating that working women spent per day three hours and eighteen minutes more on unpaid care and domestic work compared to working men during the period of study.
Also Read: List of Items Whose Prices Increased or Reduced in September
In terms of time usage in different counties, KNBS reported that Marsabit County recorded the highest proportion of time on unpaid care work by women and girls aged 15 and above at about 30% percent, which translates to 7 hours.
Other counties where the proportion of unpaid care and domestic work done by women was high include Garissa, Samburu, Wajir, Samburu, and Mandera- all which are categorized as ASAL regions.
Consequently, KNBS noted that the findings would be disseminated to the various counties for action. The goals, according to KNBS, were to collaborate with partners to ensure development of a policy to address the inequities manifested in the survey.
Additionally, KNBS noted that plans were in place to undertake a valuation of unpaid work to measure its contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Also Read: Why the Rise in Egg Prices Has Led to Food Inflation
Stakeholders eye change after time use report
The survey brought together multiple stakeholders and development partners including the United Nations Women (UN Women), World Bank, and Government of Kenya.
Stakeholders gracing the launch in Nairobi lauded the survey as an important first step for placing value for women’s work as a pathway to achieving gender equality.
According to UN Women, women in developing countries carry out more than 75% of all unpaid care work. In low-income countries, women in rural areas spend up to 14 hours a day on unpaid care work.
Globally, UN Women notes, women have continued to shoulder a disproportionate amount of unpaid care and domestic work compared to men hence calling for action.
With the launch, Kenya is now among few countries like Mexico, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda that have conducted survey on time use for working class families.
