Sub-Saharan Africa is a region characterized by significant cultural diversity and legal pluralism, with varying degrees of influence from customary law, Islamic Sharia, and colonial-era statutory laws. In Kenya, gender dynamics in legal frameworks are crucial to understanding societal norms and legal protections for women and girls. The study employs a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews with a large-scale survey to analyse gender-specific provisions in Kenyan laws. Data was collected from diverse regions across Kenya, ensuring representation of various cultural contexts. Significant disparities were observed between men and women regarding legal entitlements such as inheritance rights and access to justice mechanisms. For instance, the proportion of women seeking legal aid for property disputes was notably lower than that of men. The findings highlight a need for comprehensive gender mainstreaming within Kenyan legal systems to align with international human rights standards and promote equitable outcomes for all genders. Recommendations include enhancing awareness campaigns, training judicial officers on gender-sensitive practices, and reforming outdated laws. Public-private partnerships could also be leveraged to improve access to justice services for marginalized communities.
Wangeci et al. (Sat,) studied this question.