Skip to main content

Work-Life Balance in Kenya: A Systematic Review of Literature

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Work-Life Interface

Abstract

Work-life balance is a contemporary issue in Kenya. This is due to a rising trend in urbanization, dual-career couples, ever-rising demands in work schedules, compounded by declining dependence on extended families for child-support, and commercialization for domestic household support services. This chapter discusses the state of work-life balance research in Kenya. The authors conducted a systematic review of work-life balance-related studies from Kenya during the period 2008–2020. Data were collected from using relevant keywords such as work-life/family balance, work-life conflict, and work-life balance practices from several databases. Results show that most conceptualization and operationalization of work-life balance concepts and practices are borrowed from Western literature. Some progress has been made by the Kenyan formal sector in enacting work-life balance practices. The implications of the study are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abele, A. E., & Volmer, J. (2011). Dual-career couples: Specific challenges for work-life integration. In Creating balance? (pp. 173–189). Berlin and Heidelberg: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adegoke, Y. (2018, November 11). It’s really expensive for Africans to live in their own cities. Retrieved from https://qz.com/africa/1459482/african-cities-are-too-expensive-for-ordinary-africans/.

  • Anderson, S. E., Coffey, B. E., & Byerly, R. T. (2002). Formal organisational initiatives and informal workplace practices: Links to work-family conflict and job-related outcomes. Journal of Management, 28(6), 787–810.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aryee, S. (2005). The work-family interface in urban Sub-Saharan Africa: A theoretical analysis. In S. A. Y. Poelmans (Ed.), Work and family: An international perspective (pp. 261–285). Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bogonko, S. N (1992). A history of modern education in Kenya (1895–1991). Nairobi: Evan’s Brother Ltd

    Google Scholar 

  • Chemirmir, M. J., Musebe, R., & Nassiuma, B. K. (2018). The role of work-life balance on employee turnover in the flower industry in the North Rift Kenya. International Journal of Research in Social Sciences and Humanities, 7(1), 50–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, S., De Almada, M., Kabiru, C. W., Muthuri, S., & Wanjohi, M. (2018). Balancing paid work and childcare in a slum of Nairobi, Kenya: The case for centre-based childcare. Journal of Family Studies, 27, 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Donovan, L., & Zhu, A. (2020, April 10). Kenya Labour market wasn’t made for a pandemic. https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/04/10/kenya-labor-coronavirus-pandemic-informal-workers-economic-crisis/.

  • Dwasi, J. (2006). Kenya: A study in international labor standards and their effect on working women in developing countries: The case for integration of enforcement of World Bank policies, Wisconsin. International Law Journal, 17, 347–462.

    Google Scholar 

  • Godia, G. (1987). Education and the unemployment problem in Kenya. The Journal of Negro Education, 56(3), 356–367.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunt, A., Samman, E., Tapfuma, S., Mwaura, G., Omenya, R., Kim, K., ... Roumer, A. (2019). Women in the gig economy: Paid work, care, and flexibility in Kenya and South Africa. Retrieved from https://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/resource-documents/women_in_the_gig_economy_final_digital.pdf.

  • Institute of Economic Affairs. (2016, December 7). Economic burden of the informal sector. Retrieved from https://www.ieakenya.or.ke/number_of_the_week/economic-burden-of-the-informal-sector.

  • International Labour Office. (2010). World of work report 2010: From one crisis to the next? Geneva: International Institute of Labour Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • International Labour Organisation. (2011). C189: Domestic workers convention, 2011 (No. 189). Retrieved from https://www.ilo.org/dyn/normlex/en/f?p=NORMLEXPUB:12100:0::NO::P12100_INSTRUMENT_ID:2551460.

  • Kalliath, T., & Brough, P. (2008). Work-life balance: A review of the meaning of the balance construct. Journal of Management & Organization, 14(3), 323–327.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karani, M. H., & Paul, S. N. (2018). Effect of project supervision on work-life balance on state corporations in Kenya. A case of Kenya Power. International Journal of Social Sciences and Information Technology, IV(II), 2767–2784.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kegoro, H. O., Otieno, D. A., & Akoyo, S. I. (2020). Work-life balance and performance of National Police Service in Kenya. Journal of Human Resource & Leadership, 4(1), 10–18.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2009). Kenya census 2009. Retrieved from https://www.knbs.or.ke/Census%20Results/KNBS%20Brochure.pdf.

  • Kinyili, J. M. (2019). Work-life balance practices and staff retention: A case of public health institution in Machakos County, Kenya. International Journal of Advanced Research in Management and Social Sciences, 8(1), 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lambert, S. J., & Waxman, E. (2005). Organizational stratification: Distributing opportunities for balancing work and personal life. Mahwah: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Michel, J. S., Clark, M. A., & Beiler, A. A. (2013). Work-life conflict and its effects. In Handbook of work-life integration among professionals. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mokaya, S., & Gitari, J. W. (2012). Effects of workplace recreation on employee performance: The case of Kenya Utalii College. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2(3), 176–183.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mokomane, Z. (2014). Introduction. In Z. Mokomane (Ed.), Work-family interface in Sub-Saharan Africa (pp. 3–16). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Mokomane, Z., & Chilwane, D. (2014). A review of work-family research in Sub-Saharan Africa. In Z. Mokomane (Ed.), Work-family interface in Sub-Saharan Africa (pp. 195–205). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Muasya, G. M. (2014). The role of house helps in the work-family balance of women employed in the formal sector in Kenya. In Z. Mokomane (Ed.), Work-family interface in Sub-Saharan Africa (pp. 149–159). New York, NY: Springer.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Muasya, G. (2016). Is Work-family balance a possibility? The case of Kenyan female teachers in Urban Public Schools. International Journal of Educational Administration and Policy Studies, 8(5), 37–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muasya, G. (2017). Work-family conflict, support, and intention to quit among Kenyan female teachers in urban public schools. South African Journal of Labour Relations, 41(1), 33–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muasya, G. (2020). Stressors and work-family conflict among female teachers in urban public schools in Kenya. South African Journal of Education, 40(2), Art# 1769, 11 pp. https://www.sajournalofeducation.co.za.

  • Muasya, G. (in press). Print media framing of the definitions causes and solutions to work-life balance issues in Kenya. Communicatio. https://doi.org/10.1080/02500167.2020:1854806.

  • Muasya, G., & Martin, J. N. (2016). Conflict in Kenyan households: An exploratory study of professional women and domestic workers. Howard Journal of Communications, 27(4), 385–402.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muema, F. N., Nzioki, S., & Kinyili, J. (2018). Time-related work-life balance practices influencing employee job satisfaction in Machakos County commercial banks, Kenya. International Journal of Economics Commerce and Management, VI(10), 229–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muindi, F., Nzulwa, J., & Muinde Anne, N. W. (2015). Work-life balance practices adopted in horticultural farms in Kenya. DBA Africa Management Review, 5(2), 101–123.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mungania, A. K., Waiganjo, E. W., & Kihoro, J. M. (2016). Influence of wellness programs on organizational performance in the banking industry in Kenya. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences6(7), 179–185. ISSN: 2222-6990.

    Google Scholar 

  • Munyiva, M. J., & Wainaina, L. (2018). Work life balance and employee performance at the kenya ports authority in Mombasa County, Kenya. Journal of Human Resource and Leadership, 3(4), 16–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mwangi, L., Boinett, C. C., Tumwet, E., & Bowen, D. (2016). Effects of work-life balance on employees’ performance in institutions of higher learning. A case study of Kabarak University. Kabarak Journal of Research & Innovation4(2), 60–69.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nickanor, N., Crush, J., & Pendleton, W. (2016). Migration, rural-urban linkages, and food insecurity. In Rapid urbanisation, urban food deserts and food security in Africa (pp. 127–142). Cham: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ombati, O. F. V. (2003). Women’s participation in educational leadership in Kenya: The case of Nairobi and Thika municipal primary schools (ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, 133 pp.). State University of New York at Buffalo. Retrieved from https://login.ezproxy1.lib.asu.edu/login?url=https://search.proquest.com/.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otiende, J. E., Wamahiu, S. P., & Karugu, A. M. (1992). Education and development in Kenya. Nairobi, Kenya: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Otieno, S. (2019, June 10). Police boss lists 8 reasons behind officers’ rampant suicide. Retrieved from https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/40511-police-boss-lists-9-reasons-behind-officers-rampant-suicides.

  • Poelmans, S., O’Driscoll, M., & Beham, B. (2005). An overview of international research on the work-family interface. In Work and family: An international research perspective (pp. 3–46). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slaughter, A. (2012, July–August). Why women can’t have it all. The Atlantic. https://www.Theatlantic.com.

  • Tsimbiri, P. F., Moturi, W. N., Sawe, J., Henley, P., & Bend, J. R. (2015). Health impact of pesticides on residents and horticultural workers in the Lake Naivasha Region, Kenya. Occupational Diseases and Environmental Medicine, 3(02), 24.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, P., Lawler, J. J., Shi, K., Walumbwa, F., & Piao, M. (2008). Family-friendly employment practices: Importance and effects in India, Kenya, and China. In The global diffusion of human resource practices: Institutional and cultural limits. Emerald Group Publishing Limited.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang, P., Lawler, J. J., & Shi, K. (2011). Implementing family-friendly employment practices in banking industry: Evidence from some African and Asian countries. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology, 84(3), 493–517.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wangui, P. M. (2012). The lived experiences of female headteachers in rural primary schools in Kenya (Doctoral dissertation). University of South Africa.

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams, J. (1999). Unbending gender: Why family and work conflict and what to do about it. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2021 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Muasya, G., Nzengya, D. (2021). Work-Life Balance in Kenya: A Systematic Review of Literature. In: Adisa, T.A., Gbadamosi, G. (eds) Work-Life Interface. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-66648-4_4

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics