Gender and Land Grabbing - A post-colonial feminist discussion about the consequences of land grabbing in Rift Valley Kenya

This study has the aim to analyze what impacts land grabbing in Rift Valley, Kenya, has on rural poor, as it is perceived from a gendered perspective. Land acquisitions, or land grabbing, is a growing global phenomenon, where companies and states (foreign and domestic) are claiming land for investments, to secure the growing demand for food and biofuels, with neg-ative impacts on the rural population. Most exposed are the rural poor women. The gender issue is however not analyzed in a proper way in the debate, which is why study is important.In Rift Valley, Kenya the situation is slightly different with domestic actors standing behind the grabs. The consequences are nonetheless felt by the rural poor population, especially by the women. Through field studies and interviews with women exposed to the phenomenon I have found that even though legislation exists to provide human rights, these are often violat-ed on the ground. Women’s experiences are examined and together with other first- and sec-ondary sources these are analyzed with the theoretical lens of post-colonial feminism and the capabilities approach, leading to the conclusion that women are more vulnerable for land grabs but are capable actors fighting to make their lives better