Unpaid care and domestic work.
Time use surveys (TUS) measure the amount of time people spend doing various activities, such as paid work, household and family care, personal care, voluntary work, social life, travel, and leisure activities. In Kenya, the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics released its first-ever Time Survey report on the 18th of October 2023. The background of the research aimed at the commitment of the government of Kenya to the implementation of the sustainable development goals reaffirming the ranking of the principle of leaving no one behind. The central role of gender equality in achieving sustainable development has been antiquated in the 2030 agenda.
The survey was implemented through a “retrospective diary approach”, which highlights the activities done in the last 24 hours preceding the survey. Based on the above approach, the following were the findings from the report. Unpaid care and domestic work refers to work that is done in the home by family members for the maintenance and well-being of the family, without pay. This includes caring for children, the elderly, and sick people. It also includes washing, cooking, shopping cleaning and helping other families with their chores.
Nationally, persons aged 15 years and above spend 12.2% (equivalent to 2 hours 54 minutes) of a day on unpaid domestic and care work. Women spend 18.7% (equivalent to 4 hours 30 minutes) of a day, while men spend 3.6% (equivalent to 54 minutes) of a day on the same activities. In rural areas, Women spend 18.6% (equivalent to 4 hours 30 Minutes) of a day while men spend 3.4% (equivalent to 54 minutes). In urban areas, women on average spend 18.9% on unpaid care and domestic work while men spend only 4%.
Girls between the ages of 15-19 years spend 15.2% (equivalent to 3 hours 36 minutes) on unpaid care and domestic work while boys of the same age spend 4.2%. Elderly people above 65, for women they spent 12% (equivalent to 2 hours 54 minutes), for men it is 3.3% (equivalent to 48 minutes) on these activities. For working individuals, on average women spend 17.3% (equivalent to 4 hours 12 minutes) while men spend 3.3% (equivalent to 48 minutes) on unpaid care and domestic work. By counties, Kilifi has the lowest with the national average of 18.7% while the highest is Marsabit with 30.2% reflecting that the higher the percentage the less the women are empowered.
PS Planning Speech – Time Use Survey Report
The proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work by girls age 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. 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 statistics in this report clearly shows that unpaid domestic and care work disproportionately burdens women and girls. The findings are comparable to most of the Time Use Surveys done in other countries.