TICAH supported Maasai women to engage with representatives to address the surge in the uncontrolled land subdivision and sale, and the lack of women’s involvement in decision-making on land matters.
15 indigenous Maasai women leaders presented findings from their community-level gatherings on how to address the surge in uncontrolled subdivision and land sale, lack of women’s involvement in decision-making on matters of land, and how the community can use their land sustainably. TICAH supported the women to engage with representatives from the National Land Commission (NLC) and the Kajiado County Executive Committee (CEC) on these issues and more.
The women called on the county government to adopt the recommendations made by the community in curbing the sale of land and protecting heritage land. They emphasized the need for the county to enforce a land use planning framework, and invest in supporting pastoralist-adaptation and alternative uses of land. In particular, women called on the county government to support market-based ventures such as hay and fodder production, milk-selling and packaging, meat processing, and other livelihood projects such as poultry and crop farming.
The traditional chiefs who were present committed to continue supporting women’s voices and decision-making power on matters of land in their villages. They promised to continuously engage with men on the need to involve their wives and daughters in decisions regarding the use or sale of land, and other land-based investment options. Both the county government and NLC called on civil society organizations to support sensitization and community awareness on the value of communal land as a way of protecting against subdivision and privatisation.
The meeting ended with women making a plea to TICAH and other CSOs to support them in facilitating more engagement with their communities on the issues raised, and following up with the commitments and promises made by the county government and NLC.