Women across rural Kenya are gaining renewed confidence and economic strength through the Women Empowerment for Resilience and Rights (WE4R) program.
A transformative initiative spearheaded by PELUM Kenya, aiming to enhance the capacity of women change agents and selected male allies to amplify advocacy for women’s rights, access to resources, and representation in the context of land and rural livelihood resilience in Africa.
The program’s main focus is to tackle long-standing challenges that limit women’s ownership, control, and participation in land use and decision-making processes. According to PELUM Kenya, the program aims to promote inclusive rural transformation by building the knowledge and leadership skills of women to effectively engage in governance, policy advocacy and sustainable agriculture.
The WE4R program is anchored on three key pillars: Rights, Resources, and Representation, designed to strengthen women’s agency and promote gender-responsive land management.
“Empowering women with knowledge and resources is the first step toward transforming communities and achieving resilient rural livelihoods,” said Monica Nyaga, the program’s coordinator during the inception meeting in Kericho.
Under the program, PELUM Kenya is working with community-based organizations and Women’s groups to raise awareness on land laws, succession planning, and fair land leasing practices. Women are also being trained in sustainable agriculture and agroecological methods, including kitchen gardening, soil conservation, and crop diversification to enhance household food security.
With the inclusion of male allies in the program, it intends to promote shared responsibility and to address cultural barriers that have historically limited women’s participation in land and natural resource management.
Grassroots tools transforming Access to land
PELUM Kenya has partnered with grassroots organizations such as Shibuye Community Health Workers to popularize Community-Driven Land Lease Guidelines and the Haki Ardhi tool, a mobile-based platform that allows women to report land rights violations confidentially.
These community tools have already yielded results. In counties like Kakamega, Siaya, and Homa Bay, women farmers have leased land through the guidelines, enabling them to start agribusiness ventures and increase their productivity.
Some groups have also formed cooperatives focusing on sweet potato production and aquaculture, improving their incomes and food security.
Through fair land leasing and awareness of their rights, more women are accessing productive land and engaging in agribusiness, said Doreen Magotsi.
Beyond the community level, PELUM Kenya is engaging county governments and national agencies to influence land-related policies that promote women’s rights and equitable access to natural resources.
The organization has trained community paralegals to support women in navigating land disputes, succession cases, and advocacy processes. Mentorship sessions under the WE4R program also provide platforms for women to share experiences, learn from one another, and build confidence to take part in decision-making spaces.
Monica notes that the WE4R program aligns with PELUM’s broader goal of promoting ecological land use and gender equality in rural development.
“The project is being implemented in several African countries, with Kenya taking the lead in integrating gender equality into land governance and community resilience programs. It goes beyond land matters, but also to equity, dignity, and the power to decide, more so for our women in rural areas,” she says.
As the initiative continues to gain traction, PELUM Kenya has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that both women and men play active roles in shaping inclusive and sustainable rural communities.
