By Caroline Katana
Women environmental defenders in Kwale County are increasingly raising their voices, demanding greater inclusion in climate governance while highlighting weak project implementation and rising cases of technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV).
Mgeni Nasoro, a civil society representative and FLLoCA focal person in Kwale, said climate change continues to disproportionately affect women, especially in rural communities.
“Climate change is directly affecting sectors such as agriculture, water, and tree planting, and women are bearing the greatest burden,” Nasoro said.
She noted that despite being the most affected, many women remain excluded from decision-making processes.
“Women at the grassroots are rarely involved in decision-making platforms, yet they are the most affected,” she added.
Environmental and gender rights activist, Mariam Omar
Mariam Omar, an environmental and gender rights activist, pointed to gaps in public participation and transparency in climate projects.
“We are engaging stakeholders to ensure that women environmental defenders in Kwale are not only heard but are actively involved in decision-making and in developing solutions,” Omar said.
She criticised how past projects were implemented, saying communities were not adequately informed.
“According to our recent research, many people were not clearly told whether projects belonged to the county government or FLLoCA. This affects ownership and sustainability,” she said.
Omar also highlighted limited representation of women in leadership structures.
“Women were included in committees, but in very small numbers. That must change if we want meaningful impact,” she added.
Dzombo Ward chairperson of the climate change committee under the FLLoCA project, Patience Kanga
Patience Kanga, Chairperson of the Climate Change Committee under the FLLoCA project in Dzombo Ward, said implementation gaps remain a major concern.
“Some projects from the first phase were never implemented, while others were started but remain incomplete,” Kanga said.
She attributed this to low awareness among communities and committees.
“Many people did not understand that these projects are meant to benefit them, which has even led to cases of vandalism,” she noted.
Mohamed Pakia, a conservation manager at WWF Kenya, acknowledged that structural barriers continue to limit women’s participation in environmental programmes.
“There is still a clear gap in how women are involved in environmental projects and decision-making processes,” Pakia said.
He also challenged journalists to focus on solution-driven reporting.
“The media should provide solution-oriented reporting that connects communities, government, and organisations without political bias,” he said.
Officer at the Women Human Rights Defenders Hub, Francis NdegwaÂ
Francis Ndegwa of the Women Human Rights Defenders Hub said the forum brought together stakeholders to assess environmental governance and the challenges facing women defenders.
“This engagement is examining environmental laws, their implementation, how resources are allocated, and how women defenders can access funding,” Ndegwa said.
He warned that women defenders are increasingly facing online attacks.
“Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is being used to silence women activists, and it is causing serious psychological harm,” he said.
According to the Women Human Rights Defenders Hub, 165 cases were reported between February and March this year, with 32 percent involving women environmental defenders.
“These figures show the urgency of strengthening mechanisms for reporting, investigating, and addressing such cases,” Ndegwa added.
Executive Director of the Women Human Rights Defenders Hub, Salome Nduta
Salome Nduta, Executive Director of the Women Human Rights Defenders Hub, said policy gaps continue to hinder effective implementation of environmental laws.
“Communities and even defenders often cannot distinguish between county government projects and those under FLLoCA, or understand their roles,” Nduta said.
She emphasised the importance of clear policy frameworks.
“Policy is what operationalises the law. Without it, implementation becomes inconsistent and ineffective,” she explained.
During the two-day engagement in Diani, stakeholders called for stronger collaboration between communities, civil society, media, and government institutions to enhance transparency, promote inclusion, and address the growing threats facing women environmental defenders.
