Climate Change and Gender-Based Violence: Exploring Vulnerabilities and Impact on Women in Matapato South Ward, Kajiado County, Kenya

Abstract

Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a critical social challenge in climate-vulnerable pastoral communities, where environmental stressors intersect with gender inequalities. This study, grounded in EcoFeminist Theory and Social Vulnerability and Resource Scarcity and Conflict Theory, examined how climate change outcomes influence GBV against women in Matapato South Ward, Kajiado County, Kenya. EcoFeminist Theory highlights how gendered power imbalances increase women’s vulnerability, while Social Vulnerability and Resource Scarcity and Conflict Theory frames how environmental shocks compromise social and household stability. The study targeted women and key stakeholders, including community elders, local administrators, healthcare workers, law enforcement officers, and NGO representatives addressing climate change and GBV, with a total population of 194 women and 62 stakeholders. Using Yamane’s formula, a sample of 131 women and 44 stakeholders was selected. Cluster and purposive sampling ensured balanced representation. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, and qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Findings reveal strong theoretical and empirical links between climate stressors and GBV. Consistent with Feminist Theory, 95.9% of respondents reported that drought-related water scarcity leads to household conflicts, reflecting how resource scarcity exacerbates gendered power tensions. Pasture shortages were cited by 98.0% as increasing domestic violence, while 93.9% indicated that food insecurity intensifies household disputes. Supporting Vulnerability/Resilience Theory, 92.9% reported that drought-induced migration exposes women to sexual violence, highlighting how mobility under climate stress heightens vulnerability. Overall, 92.9% affirmed that climate stressors increase GBV in their communities. The study concludes that climate-induced water, pasture, and food scarcity, along with migration, intensify GBV risks, including household disputes, emotional abuse, sexual violence, and exploitative relationships. These findings underscore the gendered security implications of climate change and the need for targeted interventions to reduce GBV, enhance community resilience, and protect women in pastoralist settings.