Sheria, Shambas, and Sugar Daddies

Women in Kenya have a long history of organizing themselves into formal and informal associations. Although it has taken different forms throughout history and has faced periods of strong opposition or co-optation, there is a vibrant women’s movement in Kenya. Sheria, Shambas, and Sugar Daddies examines the role that the government, national women’s organizations, and individual women have played in shaping the context in which women negotiate their status in society. Kenyan women are virtually left on their own to develop strategies for coping with difficult economic circumstances. Kenyan women at all levels of society are resourceful, innovative, and industrious; however, the coping mechanisms they employ to meet their needs and the needs of their families often develop as a result of extremely limited alternatives. Because of the drive among women to strive for lives and livelihoods that are satisfying and are negotiated on their own terms, the potential exists for the women’s movement to make more efforts to bridge the gap between national-level activism and women’s lived realities.