The Climate Change Legal and Policy Framework in Kenya: an Analysis of the Gender Perspectives

Abstract

Gender inequalities intersect with climate risks and vulnerabilities. Women’s historic disadvantage- their limited access to resources, restricted rights, and a muted voice in 9 shaping decisions make them highly vulnerable to climate change. The nature of that vulnerability varies widely cautioning against generalization. But climate change is likely to magnify existing patterns of gender disadvantage” United Nations Development Programme, Human Development Report 2007/2008 Fighting climate change: Human solidarity in a divided world, New York, 2007 Climate change has severe socio-economic and environmental consequences. The effects include water shortage, floods in coastal low land areas, heat waves, droughts, and increases in cardio- respiratory and infectious diseases. The phenomenon has been identified as presenting serious threats towards achievement of any meaningful development and could in fact reverse the gains made so far. Though Climate change is not an entirely new subject as a whole, the gender perspective is a somewhat new dimension and approach. As such not much research has been undertaken which seeks to establish a link between climate change and gender issues. The impacts of climate change on gender vary depending on the socio-economic status. In most scenarios women are the most affected by these impacts owing to their perceived and actual roles in the society which mostly revolve around household chores. In post disaster scenarios women have been known to stay behind and undertake reconstruction of their homes as the men set off in search of work. Kenya has recently enacted a climate change law becoming the first country in Sub Saharan Africa to do so. On the surface, the development is a major milestone in confronting climate change. This study shall interrogate the legislation to determine whether gender perspectives have been given consideration. Specifically the researcher will put into perspective various gender roles and highlight the need for the legal framework to be proactive on gender dimensions. 10 The researcher shall seek to build on the scanty literature available and make recommendation that would hopefully enlighten future studies and interventions in gender and climate change legal and policy frameworks.