Nairobi tops counties where women have a higher say on how men spend their earnings.
A new report by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that 26.4 percent of women in Nairobi make the final decisions on their men’s cash, followed by 17.4 percent in neighbouring Kiambu, 16.2 percent in Isiolo, Bungoma (12.8 percent) and Nakuru (11.4 percent).
But overall, men still make the final decisions on how to use their money and that earned by their wives across the counties.
The findings of the survey, which was conducted for the first time, look set to reignite debate amid increasing calls to empower women in a bid to improve the economic fortunes of families.
“Forty percent of currently married women with husbands who have earnings reported that their husband makes decisions alone on how his cash earnings are used and 52 percent reported that this decision is made jointly,” says KNBS in the survey.
Kenya is a signatory to an international convention meant to eliminate socioeconomic discrimination against women, with the government keen to enhance the participation of women in financial decisions at the family level.
Kirinyaga County tops the devolved units where men have higher say on their earnings at 96.6 percent followed by Kajiado at 83.6 percent, Mandera (77.5 percent), Turkana at 76.1 percent and Nyeri (70.6 percent).
The survey dubbed the ‘Demographic and Health Survey 2022’ sampled 5,880 men aged between 15 and 49 who were in employment since the start of the year.
The KNBS says respondents are considered to have control over their earnings if they participate in decisions alone or jointly with their spouse about how their cash earnings will be used.
Kilifi tops counties where joint decisions are made on the men’s cash at 89.8 percent followed by Makueni at 84.4 percent, Kitui (83.1 percent), Tana River at 81.3 percent and Homa Bay (77.3 percent).
The average earnings of men in professional occupations who were sampled were Sh46,747.70 compared to Sh34,111.40 for women.
But Vihiga and Busia top counties where men unilaterally decide on how women spend their earnings with 67.8 percent, followed by Mandera at 67.3 percent, Kakamega (58.6 percent) and 58.2 percent in Wajir.
Mandera County tops the list of women who have the final say on their earnings at 27.5 percent, Taita Taveta at 15.8 percent, Embu (13.9 percent), Siaya at 13.6 percent, Kericho (13.5 percent).
