By Urban Shihemi, June 16, 2025.

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is holding a national dialogue in Machakos County with Kenyan women parliamentarians and key stakeholders to address the intersection of gender, land rights, and climate resilience. The event brought together government officials, civil society leaders, and experts in land governance and climate change to chart a path toward stronger resilience for women across Kenya and the region.

The forum, themed around women’s access to land and climate justice, emphasized the need to empower women through legal reforms, community engagement, and regional policy alignment. The dialogue underscored the urgent call for women’s land ownership to be recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable development in Africa. Dr. Fatuma Adan,  IGAD Head of mission to Kenya, called for urgent action to dismantle structural barriers hindering women from owning land. “It is time for women’s ownership of land to be fully recognized not as a privilege, but as a right,” Dr. Adan said. “Without land, women remain vulnerable to poverty and climate shocks.” Hon. Sabina Chege, the nominated Member of Parliament who served as the Chief Guest, spoke passionately about the need for community-level empowerment of women, particularly on legal awareness and land rights. She also criticized existing societal norms that continue to marginalize women in land ownership. “Our communities need to be sensitized. Women are still sidelined by outdated cultural practices that deny them access to land,” Chege noted. “We must challenge these norms and empower women with legal tools to claim their rightful share.” From the Ministry of Lands, Dr. Juliana Mutua, Deputy Director, Physical Planning reaffirmed the government's position on gender equality, citing the Kenyan Constitution as a progressive framework that guarantees equal rights to property and land. “Kenya has a constitution that promotes equality and protects the rights of all citizens, including women,” Dr. Mutua said. “Our task is to ensure that these rights are enforced.” The dialogue is part of a wider IGAD initiative to promote gender-responsive land policies and strengthen women’s role in building climate resilience across the region. Participants called for increased collaboration among IGAD member states to harmonize laws and practices that support women’s access to land. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) is an eight-country trade bloc in Africa. It includes governments from the Horn of Africa, Nile Valley and the African Great Lakes. It is headquartered in Djibouti.