Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access
Between Law and Custom: Community Awareness of Women’s Land Rights in Kajiado West, Kenya
Komba E., Chesikaw L, Cheplogoi S.
8 August 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 8, pp. 1427-1430
DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-04
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What is this article about?
Despite progressive legal frameworks promoting gender equality in land ownership in Kenya, the level of awareness of women’s land rights remains critically low at the community level. This paper investigates community awareness of women’s land rights in Kajiado West Sub-County, a region where customary practices strongly influence land access and control.
Article at a glance
- Published
- 8 August 2026
- Volume / issue / pages
- Vol. 2, Issue 8, pp. 1427-1430
- ISSN
- 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
- Peer review
- Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
- Publisher
- EP Journals Group
Abstract
Despite progressive legal frameworks promoting gender equality in land ownership in Kenya, the level of awareness of women’s land rights remains critically low at the community level. This paper investigates community awareness of women’s land rights in Kajiado West Sub-County, a region where customary practices strongly influence land access and control. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study collected data through structured questionnaires, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Quantitative findings revealed that while 70% of male respondents reported high awareness of land reforms, only 50% of women did, with young and unmarried women showing the lowest awareness levels. Qualitative insights attributed the gender gap in awareness to entrenched patriarchal norms, limited civic education, and low literacy levels among rural women. The study concludes that the disconnect between constitutional guarantees and customary practice undermines women’s land rights and recommends targeted legal literacy campaigns and culturally sensitive sensitization programs.
Keywords: Awareness, Customary law, Gender, Land rights, Legal literacy
Cite this article
Komba E., Chesikaw L, & Cheplogoi S. (2026). Between Law and Custom: Community Awareness of Women’s Land Rights in Kajiado West, Kenya. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(8), 1427-1430. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-04
@article{Komba2026,
title = {Between Law and Custom: Community Awareness of Women’s Land Rights in Kajiado West, Kenya},
author = {Komba E. and Chesikaw L and Cheplogoi S.},
journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {8},
pages = {1427-1430},
doi = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-04},
url = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-04}
}Questions about this article
Who wrote this article?
Komba E., Chesikaw L, Cheplogoi S..
Where and when was it published?
In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 8, pages 1427-1430, published by EP Journals Group on 8 August 2026.
Is this article free to read?
Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.
What is the DOI of this article?
10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-04 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-04).
How do I cite this article?
APA: Komba E., Chesikaw L, & Cheplogoi S. (2026). Between Law and Custom: Community Awareness of Women’s Land Rights in Kajiado West, Kenya. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(8), 1427-1430. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E8/2026-04
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