Men as Allies: Advancing Women’s Land Rights in Kajiado

From 14th to 16th October 2024, KELIN held a training session for 27 men in Kajiado, Kenya. The participants, including young men, elders, community leaders, and chiefs, came together to discuss how to support women’s land rights. The training used the “Securing Your Family Futures” (SYFF) curriculum, KELIN’s initiative to challenge harmful social norms and cultural practices, with the goal of promoting gender equality in land ownership.

The training focused on fostering cooperation between brothers, husbands, and fathers to help secure the land rights of women—specifically sisters, wives, and daughters. It also addressed issues of gender-based violence by promoting peaceful family and community relationships. The participants learned about Kenya’s marriage, inheritance, and land laws, and discussed how men can help create equal social and gender norms.

This event followed a separate training for women, designed to empower them to claim their land rights. By educating men as change agents, the SYFF curriculum aims to increase women’s access to and control over land-related decision-making, and to challenge traditional norms that threaten these rights.

One participant shared, “We’ve learned that our constitution supports our culture, and by applying rights-based approaches, we can better align our actions with the law while respecting everyone’s rights.”

KELIN continues to work toward realizing Kenya’s constitutional protections for family, property, and gender equality, as outlined in Articles 27, 40, and 45. Moving forward, KELIN will strengthen relationships with duty bearers and train elders in using Alternative Justice Systems to address conflicts in line with Article 159 of the Constitution.

To contribute to the discussions on this forum, follow KELIN on our social media platforms using the hashtag: #EquitableLandRights #WLPRights

Twitter: @KELINKenya @SYFFKenya

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/kelinkenya   

For more information, please contact.

Kenneth Otieno

Programme Officer.

P O Box 112 – 00202 KNH Nairobi,

Tel: 020, 2515790 │Mobile: +254790339964

E-mail: kotieno@kelinkenya.org 

Website: www.kelinkenya.org