How activist is helping Endorois women navigate climate crisis

In Baringo County, rural women are facing the compounded challenges of climate change, gender-based violence and a lack of access to critical resources.

Amid these struggles, one local activist is leading a transformative movement to empower women and build resilience to overcome the climate crisis.

Benadine Kochei, a human rights defender and advocate for rural women, is spearheading efforts to uplift her community.

Through her organisation, the Koimugul Indigenous Women Network (KIWN), Kochei advocates not only for the preservation of indigenous crops but also for the broader socio-economic issues that affect women in the area.

This initiative is being supported by Hivos, under the Rural Women Cultivating Change project. We met Kochei at the 2nd Eastern Africa Agroecology Conference last week.

Passionate about empowering rural women in Baringo, she is determined to help them navigate the climate crisis that threatens their very existence.

The activist comes from the Endorois community, an indigenous and marginalised group in Baringo whose culture and customs set them apart.

“We are a minority and are often overlooked in most development projects,” Kochei says. “Because we are few in number, our needs are not prioritised and we face marginalisation.”

As an activist, Kochei strives to ensure rural women’s voices are heard and their needs addressed, especially in building resilience against the impacts of climate change.

Founded in 2020, KIWN, promotes sustainable agricultural practices, particularly the revitalisation of indigenous crops.

“Our indigenous crops are vital for food security in our community,” Kochei says.

“In the past, we would plant maize, sell it to companies and end up with no food for ourselves. Now, we are learning the importance of cultivating these crops for our own consumption.”

However, the challenges remain severe. Kochei’s community, living near the Lake Baringo landscape, has witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of rising water levels.

“Lake Baringo has submerged many houses in our area, forcing people to migrate to unfamiliar places,” she says.

“As a result, many women are exposed to greater risks, including gender-based violence and early marriages. In the displaced areas, we also see an increase in female genital mutilation.”

As families are displaced, many women are left behind or forced into vulnerable situations.

“In our community, when climate change displaces people, men often marry women from wealthier towns, leaving behind women and children without support,” Kochei said.

This situation leaves many women vulnerable, particularly those with disabilities or young children, who are often neglected during these crises.

Another devastating effect of displacement is the rise in HIV/AIDS. Many displaced people are forced to live in overcrowded, unsanitary conditions with no privacy, creating a breeding ground for the spread of HIV.

“Living in tents with no privacy is a perfect storm for the spread of the disease,” Kochei says.

In addition to these challenges, the Endorois community struggles with a loss of identity.

“As we intermingle with others during migration, we sometimes lose our sense of who we are. With so few of us left, it’s difficult to preserve our culture.”

Despite these overwhelming difficulties, Kochei remains hopeful and continues to advocate for women’s inclusion in county development plans.

“We used to believe that men were the only ones who could prioritise our issues. But now, we are actively involved in the county’s budget processes, ensuring that women’s needs are addressed in the County Integrated Development Plan and the Annual Development Plan.”

Her advocacy is starting to bear fruit. “Our participation in the county’s budget processes has made a difference,” she says.

“We now have resources allocated for women empowerment, such as rainwater harvesting tanks for their homes, smart agriculture training and better access to education for their children.”

Kochei believes that empowering women is key to building community resilience.

“When you empower a woman, you empower the entire world,” she says.

“Group farming is one of the best ways to empower women in our community. By working together, they can improve their lives and create sustainable livelihoods.”

Chebet Chirchir, programme officer, Rural Women Cultivating Change, Hivos East Africa, explains that the project is designed to empower rural women across Kenya, Tanzania and Ethiopia by addressing cultural and structural barriers that limit their opportunities.

The project targets smallholder farmers, female heads of households and survivors of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence.

“The aim is to enhance leadership roles, promote gender equality and build climate resilience,” says Chirchir.

The RWCC project is implemented in Kenya by GROOTS Kenya, Hivos East Africa, and Seed Savers Network, with funding from Global Affairs Canada through SeedChange.

The project’s sites in Kenya include Baringo, Laikipia, Kitui and Nakuru counties. Chirchir points out that climate change is posing significant challenges to rural livelihoods, particularly for women saying, “Women in Baringo, Laikipia, Kitui and Nakuru counties face climate change impacts that affect food security, water availability, financial stability, cultural barriers and livestock challenges.”

A recent assessment of the climate change effects on rural women’s livelihoods in these counties showed that droughts and floods have led to crop failures and shortages, rivers and boreholes are drying up, making it difficult to access water.

It also showed that women struggle to cultivate and sell crops, earning minimal income, there is limited access to land and farming rights which restricts women’s ability to sustain their livelihoods.

Also, drought, floods and diseases are threatening economic stability, causing forced migration.