Assessing gender asset-gap in agricultural development in Kenya: a comparative study of smallholder dairy farmers

This paper assesses and compares impact of gender asset-gap among smallholder dairy farmers in Uasin Gishu and Meru Counties. It uses geographical positioning system and geographical information systems in its sampling process. Data collection and analysis encompasses questionnaire administration, descriptive statistics and gender analyses. Most of the households in Uasin Gishu and Meru (73% and 68% respectively) are male-headed and managed. The female-headed and managed are 17% and 16% while the youth-headed and managed are 10% and 16%, respectively. Across gender-cadres, males own more land and are better educated than both females and youths. Decision-making on land control, access and use of proceeds from both crops and livestock is dominated by men. Men get more milk (litres/animal/day) in both seasons than women and youths. Invariably gender asset-gap is critical in agricultural development.