In the arid lands of northern Kenya, land is more than property – it’s the foundation of identity, survival, and cultural continuity. For decades, pastoralist women in these regions have been sidelined from decisions regarding land ownership and resource management. But this narrative is changing, thanks to the Rendille Grassroots Women Support Project led by the Pastoralist Peoples’ Initiative (PPI).
With funding support from Cultural Survival’s Keepers of the Earth Fund, PPI is breaking the barriers that exclude women from the land registration process and embedding women’s leadership into the heart of community transformation.
Under Kenya’s Community Land Act of 2016, pastoralist communities have the right to register communal lands. However, implementation in regions like Marsabit and Samburu has been slow, uneven, and often exclusionary – particularly for women. Despite being the backbone of pastoralist economies, women are frequently left out of land governance structures, legal education, and even basic land mapping exercises.
This gender gap is compounded by cultural norms, lack of legal literacy, and minimal representation in community decision-making forums. PPI recognized this structural marginalization early and designed the Rendille Grassroots Women Support Project to tackle it head-on.
The uniqueness of this initiative lies in its community-rooted, language-specific, and women-centered approach. Rather than working through external consultants or purely academic interventions, PPI activates the power of community voices, especially women’s voices – through a blend of grassroots mobilization, legal education, and media engagement.
Key components of the project include:
- Local Radio Advocacy – PPI organized radio talk shows in Rendille and Samburu languages, creating awareness around the Community Land Act 2016. These shows reached thousands across remote settlements, providing culturally accessible education on legal rights and procedures for land registration.
- Legal Awareness Workshops -Women were trained on their land rights under Kenyan law. The sessions not only explained legal frameworks but also provided practical tools – how to participate in community land committees, how to document claims, and how to assert collective ownership.
- Community Dialogue Forums – These forums brought together women elders, youth, and men to openly discuss women’s rightful place in community decision-making. The result: increased support from male allies and reduced stigma around women participating in public land matters.
The impact of the Rendille Grassroots Women Support Project is measurable and inspiring.
Over 400 women directly participated in legal trainings and community forums.
A notable increase in women’s representation was recorded in local land management committees.
Radio talk shows reached an estimated 15,000+ households, sparking widespread conversation and requests for follow-up legal aid.
Community-led campaigns were launched to ensure women are present in every stage of the land registration process – from boundary mapping to certificate issuance.
Land is the gateway to development, dignity, and justice. For Rendille women, being recognized as rightful stewards of land doesn’t just mean security – it means voice, visibility, and value.
By creating spaces where women can advocate for their land rights and be heard in their own languages, PPI is redefining what gender equity looks like in pastoralist Kenya. This work goes beyond legal empowerment – it is cultural transformation in real-time.
