USAID LAND TENURE and PROPERTY RIGHTS PORTAL

You are here

Home
Project Summary

PROJECTS: Kenya

Project Duration Estimated (or Approximate) Funding Program Brief
Justice Project 2011-2013 $300,000 Download
Kenya Country Profile →

Article

Justice Project

The JUSTICE Project is piloting an approach for improving women’s access to customary justice, particularly related to women’s land rights, by enhancing the customary justice system in one target area. The work will also result in a clearer understanding of the relationships between customary and statutory institutions and laws, and the development of a model to promote the integration of informal and formal justice systems. The pilot activity complements other USAID programs in Kenya focused on addressing land/resource tenure, access to justice, and governance challenges, in the upper Mara River catchment area within the Mau Forest Complex, Kenya (“Mau”). By design, this project has relied extensively on assessments and other information, for and under the ProMara project, gathered since February 2010.

Duration: 2010 - 2012
Funding: $ 300,000

Objectives
Develop basic justice modules to train traditional leaders on provisions of the Kenyan Constitution and National Land Policy.
Build capacity within the customary justice system to more effectively perform duties.
Build women's capacity to govern and to know, understand, and exercise their rights.
Support justice learning related to the Kenyan Constitution and the National Land Policy within schools and families.
Raise community's legal awareness.
Outcomes
Chiefs publically issued a new Katiba (local constitution) to guide their decision making and legal responsibilities to the community.
Two of the Ol Pusimoru sub-locations elected 14 women elders out of 50 total. This election of women as elders is the first within the Maasai and Kalenjin communities.
Chiefs and elders now require spousal consent (with witnesses) for all land transactions, including leases.
In the Ol Mariko sub-location, women who received training made the request that elders no longer hear rape cases. The elder council agreed with the request and will refer all such cases to formal legal systems.
Trained 34 women in environmental and forest management and alternative dispute resolution. These women then conducted over 20 peer sessions, reaching more than 268 women.
Related Commentary
Strengthening Women’s Land Rights Creates a Virtuous Cycle in Kenya
Improving Access to Customary Justice: A Means to Strengthen Women's Land Rights
USAID Partner Landesa Ranked Among the Top NGOs in the World
NGOs Highlight Kenya Justice Project's Achievements
How Strengthening Women's Land Rights Can Help Prevent Child Marriage
View Archives
Related Documents
Project Brief: Kenya Justice
SPOTLIGHTS
ABOUT OUR WORK
See why land rights are central to economic growth, food security, and women’s empowerment.
NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
Secure land tenure and resource rights are key drivers of biodiversity and sustainable natural resource management.
VIETNAM
Land in Vietnam belongs to its population and is administered by the state on behalf of the public.
The information provided on this Web site is not official U.S. Government information and does not represent the views or positions of the U.S. Agency for International Development or the U.S. Government. (See USAID http://www.usaid.gov/info_technology/xweb/contracts.html).