Women's Experiences in the Context of Climatic Crisis: An African Theo-Eco-feminist Approach to food insecurity in Kenya

Climate change is a pressing global issue that profoundly impacts our planet and its inhabitants. In response, the international community has recognized the urgency to address this challenge and has set forth the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) as a framework for action. SDG 13 specifically focuses on climate action, emphasizing the need for climate mitigation and adaptation measures to combat climate change effectively. Food insecurity in Kenya as occasioned by climate change has particularly affected women in rural parts of Kenya specifically in Kitui County. To address this problem, the study sought to analyze the impact of climate change on food insecurity in Kitui County, with a particular focus on its effects on rural women, and to understand how women have contributed to curbing food insecurity, with a focus on their roles in agricultural production. This study adopted an African-Theo-Eco-feminist approach as an intersectional response to climate change, emphasizing women's critical role in environmental sustainability and community resilience. A comprehensive desktop review and qualitative in-depth interviews coupled with semi-structured and open-ended questions were used to examine how women have contributed to addressing food insecurity. Key findings reveal that climate change exacerbates existing gender inequalities, disproportionately affecting women's access to resources and decision-making power in agricultural contexts. This research contributes to the growing body of literature on gender responsive climate change adaptation, offering insights into the complex interplay in theological, ecological, and feminist perspectives in the Kenyan context. The findings have implications for policy development, emphasizing the need for gender-sensitive climate adaptation strategies that recognize and leverage women's unique knowledge and experiences.