What are these women digging for...??

http://phototravels.net/kenya/kikuyu/pho...

those women are preparing the land to plant maize.
The photograph was taken in the rural area around the great rift valley. The women are peasents from the kikuyu tribe and they look like they belong in the Oraga clan.
they are dressed like upcountry kikuyus from the rural lowerclass so its just my guess but I think im almost accurate.

im NOT a kikuyu but I can tell apart the different tribes and social classes

Looks like they are just preparing the ground for new planting by digging it. Just as I am doing in readiness for spring planting.

They are doing to the ground what we in the UK would do with a tractor and plough.
Just turning the soil.

they are harrowing the soil. preparing it for planting by breaking the soil and making it loose.

They are preparing the land for the next crop of maize (corn) a staple food in Kenya.

These is an example of the many women's micro-organizations. Each woman has a farm (shamba in Swahili) of her own, but they choose to all work on one shamba at a time then move to another's .They are preparing the shamba for planting. It will probably take one day (approximately 10 hours) get it done. They will come together again for weeding, harvesting and sell their produce together at a better price than they would have individually. You should understand that tractors and other mechanical equipment are too expensive for most farmers in Kenya.
Men are also involved in these activities (idling is a taboo according to the Kikuyu culture). Men are either looking after the livestock or working in another farm.

Try this: http://www.kukummi.org/Stories/kikuyuhis...

Actually the rainy season is just around the corner and they have to till the land to prepare it for plantation. They are very wise and experienced when it comes to timing the rains.