Dangerous Liaisons: Navigating women's land rights and disputes

Land holds immense economic, cultural, religious, and political significance for most sub-Saharan African countries. However, customary patriarchal norms restrict land ownership to the male lineage, while women typically access land through relationships with men. Women's land rights thus remain weak and vulnerable to disputes, particularly when these relationships are severed. Despite legal reforms aimed at enhancing women's land rights in Kenya, customary norms remain deeply entrenched. 

This book examines the experience of women entangled in land disputes. It illustrates women's vulnerability to land disputes and demonstrates how men exploit their positions of authority to manipulate existing institutions to deprive women of their rights. These women contend with violence and social exclusion in unclear land dispute resolution structures. While formal courts are more likely to safeguard women's land rights, the process is often arduous, costly, and often tainted by corruption.

This book appeared in the African Studies Collection, no. 84 (2024).

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Author(s) / editor(s)

Dolphine Isinta

About the author(s) / editor(s)

Dolphine Isinta, a native of Kisii County, Kenya, grew up witnessing injustices against women under the guise of customary law. These experiences motivated her to pursue a Bachelor of Arts and an MSC in sociology and geography from Egerton University. Her research interests lie in women’s land rights. Although land is crucial for the livelihood of most households, women in her rural community have weak land rights. This book represents the culmination of her PhD studies at the Sustainability Research Center, Bremen University, under the guidance of Prof. Michael Flitner. Dolphine resides in Germany with her husband and three sons.