Table 2-1 – SIGs and exclusion manifestation table

Special Interest Groups (SIG) have indicated that social exclusion in Makueni County manifests in the following forms:

Table 2-1 – SIGs and exclusion manifestation table

Women Key findings from the Wote Municipality Diagnostic Report

› Lack of access to information and no participation in decision-making processes: In FGDs, women indicated that they do not feel represented in the design of programmes targeted at them. They have also stated that they cannot easily access market and agricultural information. › Limited access to assets and finance: Women do not own land, and access to it is through their spouse or parents; this makes access to funds that require collateral (e.g. Tetheka Fund) difficult. Due to cultural norms, women often have limited control over economic resources. › High levels of gender-based violence (GBV): Makueni is one of the counties with the highest prevalence of GBV in

Kenya. According to the County’s Department of Gender and Social Services2, at least five GBV cases are reported every day. The Makueni County Sexual and Gender Based Violence Policy (2020) recognises that women and girls are disproportionately affected by this type of violence.

› Lack of involvement in decision-making processes: In FGDs, young people indicated that they do not feel represented in the design of programmes targeted at them. They also feel that they are not represented in leadership positions. FGD participants have also said that there is usually no monitoring process on how government funds are allocated to the youth. › High unemployment levels: FDGs stated that the youth do not often have access to employment opportunities since qualification levels or requirements in terms of years of experience are disproportionately high. Moreover, employers require certificates of good conduct, which are costly to obtain. While there are some employment opportunities such as government mentorship programmes, they are short (two to three months long), and not everyone can access information about these opportunities. FGDs also stated that since the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has been operating, employment opportunities (i.e. hospitality and transportation services) have been further reduced. The lack of opportunities results in the economic migration of youths to other towns. › Lack of access to land and capital: Young people feel that despite their skills, talent, and eagerness to work, they do not often have access to finance or capital to engage in businesses. In the Kamba culture, men find pride in owning land (where they usually have fruit trees), and young people do not usually have access to land. This also makes access to finance or funds that require collateral (such as the Tetheka Fund) difficult.

2 Makueni County Sexual and Gender Based Violence Policy (2020)

Source: Atkins analysis

SIG Key findings from the Wote Municipality Diagnostic Report

Elderly People › Lack of involvement in decision-making and lack of access to information: FGDs stated that both the County and national governments do not involve elderly people in decision-making process on issues regarding them. In terms of access to information, many people were left out of the Inua Jamii Fund (Social Protection Cash Programme). FGD participants said that, since the process of registration was done during a political campaign, some elderly people thought it was done for political reasons and were left out. Moreover, the registration process is said to be unclear and lengthy. › Conflict over access to land: FGDs have indicated that elderly people often own land and hold on to it to benefit from what is cultivated there (often fruit trees). As stated before, in Kamba culture, owning land is a source of pride. FGDs have revealed an increasing tendency for children to aggressively demand their share in land (inheritance of the ancestral land). Since elderly people usually refuse, their children start to neglect them. This leaves them in a particularly vulnerable position since they are not able to work the land by themselves. › Challenges accessing services and social infrastructure: There is no priority system for elderly people at healthcare facilities. Transportation services do not consider the needs of this group either. FGDs also stated that elderly people often lack information about medical insurance cover (National Health Insurance Fund, NHIF). › Challenges when engaging in economic activities: FGDs said that elderly people who own small-scale shops are often taken advantage of. FGD participants also indicated that, when they receive support from caregivers to sell their produce, they do not always declare the right amount of money earned. Elderly people engaging in agriculture face issues over land, high costs of inputs and technology, and severe weather events. › Lack of recreational spaces: FGDs have indicated that there are not enough recreational spaces that are accessible and safe for elderly people.

PWD › Lack of PWD-friendly infrastructure: FGDs have indicated that most buildings, markets, and public spaces are not accessible to PWD, particularly for those using assistive devices. In markets, there is also the need to plan for accessible vending spaces. Moreover, transportation services do not usually take accessibility into account, and often charge PWD additional fees. › Low literacy levels: There are not many educational facilities equipped for PWD within Wote and the ones that exist are not affordable to many PWD, other PWD access learning institutions from other counties such as Kiambu which is not affordable to many PWD. For this reason, PWD cannot always gain access to education, and hence, often have lower literacy levels than their able-bodied counterparts. › Lack of access to capital: Due to discrimination, lower literacy levels, and lack of collateral, PWD do not often have access to seed capital to start economic activities or to expand their businesses. Funds such as Tetheka are only available for people who have collateral. › Lack of PWD involvement in decision-making processes: PWD feel they are not usually represented or consulted in the preparation and implementation of development projects. › Lack of access to information and communication barriers: Due to discrimination, PWD do not often have access to agricultural and market information and opportunities. Moreover, there are communication barriers that affect PWD access to social infrastructure. For example, there are no sign language interpreters at hospitals or health centres. › Partial or lack of implementation of disability laws and social protection measures: FGDs commented that there is no clear information about NCPWD special funds and grants. For employed PWD, the registration process to obtain tax exemptions is lengthy and often unclear. › Stigmatisation: PWD face high levels of discrimination, which often results in them being excluded from employment opportunities.

Source: Atkins analysis Opportunities for inclusion in the SUED programme include involvement of all in decision-making and in the development of safe, inclusive and climate-resilient infrastructure. This will enable better access to capacity building initiatives, seed capital and employment opportunities – especially through participation in the VC projects.

There are interlinkages between climate change and poverty, as climate change will have an impact on income security and quality of life. It is important to understand where the burden of climate change impacts may fall and how societal groups can be included in proposed mitigation measures.

Social inclusion is cognisant of this relationship. The UEP adopts climate adaptation approaches, as well as inclusivity in all forms, to avoid exclusion of certain groups and to reduce inequality. Similarly, it seeks to address how infrastructure and VCs can be made more resilient to climate shocks, with the understanding that climate impacts hit vulnerable groups the hardest.