WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN POLICY DECISION MAKING IN TURKANA COUNTY, KENYA: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

ABSTRACT
The decision to educate girls from arid and semi-arid lands (ASAL) has not been broadly supported by policy communities nationally and local governments. In effect, this phenomenon has produced women who find themselves in a disadvantaged position in regard to policy design and decision making. This article explores the extent to which women participation, or lack thereof, determines their influence in policy decision-making. It draws from feminist theory that advocates for gender inclusion, and women involvement in decision making. The administered a semi-structured questionnaire to 85 women employed by Turkana County and interviewed 10 other women mainstream ministries working at county level. Quantitative data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics while qualitative data was analyzed through content analysis. Results of the study showed that the prospects of women participation in policy decision making were; increasing number of women in managerial position/levels; economic empowerment of women; and increasing enrolment of women/girls into educational institutions or facilities. Major challenges found were: alienation within the political, economic, and cultural space. The study recommends Turkana County government should design a policy framework that guarrantees: i) increased enrollment of women and girls in formal education institutions to enhance their knowledge and skills in leadership and governance; ii) increased number of women in managerial levels/positions; iii) support for the establishment of women micro-finance institutions; and iv) provision of financial and training support forwomen to boost their economic status.

Keywords: Women, Policy, Decision-Making, Policy Design; Prospects, Challenges