Kenyan women spend an equivalent of 4 hours 30 minutes a day of unpaid and domestic care work compared to 54 minutes spent by men, according to a new survey released by the Kenya Bureau of Statistics (KNBS), which shows that unpaid domestic and care work disproportionately burdens women and girls.

According to the 2021 Kenya Time Use Survey Report, which is the first of its kind to be produced in Kenya, the proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work by girls aged 15-17 years, is thrice as much (14.0% – 3 hours 24 minutes) as that of boys (4.1% – 1 hour) of the same age group.

Time Use Surveys provide comprehensive and detailed information on how individuals spend their time on different activities (social and /or economic) over a specified period either on a daily or weekly basis.

Kenya’s Time Use Survey documents the proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age and location. The survey was implemented through a “retrospective diary approach”, which highlights the activities done in the last 24 hours preceding the survey.

Counties

Marsabit County recorded the highest proportion of time spent by women on unpaid domestic and care work a record 7 hours 12 minutes (equivalent to 30.2%) followed by Wajir County with (26.8% – 6 hours – 24 minutes) Samburu County with (24.2% equivalent to 5 hours 24 minutes), Mandera County with (23.8% equivalent to 5 hours 42 minutes) and Garissa County (23.7% equivalent to 5 hours 42 minutes).

“The SDGs calls for all countries to monitor SDG target 5.4 on the recognition and valuation of unpaid care and domestic work as a way to promote gender equality. Much of unpaid work is performed by women, often resulting in unequal social, economic and political opportunities for them” – James Muhati, Principal Secretary, State Department for Economic Planning.