Breaking the Silence: The Causes and Realities of Intimate Partner Violence among Pastoralist Women in Kenya

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) remains a critical public health and human rights concern globally, disproportionately affecting women in vulnerable and marginalized communities. In Kenya, pastoralist communities face unique structural and cultural conditions that heighten women’s susceptibility to IPV. This paper explores the multifaceted causes of IPV among Pokot and Samburu women. Drawing on qualitative evidence from interviews and focus group discussions, the study identifies key drivers of IPV, including entrenched cultural norms that condone male dominance, polygamous marital structures, early and forced marriages, reproductive control, misuse of family and communal resources, and persistent food insecurity. These factors are further exacerbated by limited access to education, poverty, and weak institutional enforcement of women’s rights, creating a cyclical environment of vulnerability. The analysis situates these findings within broader literature on gender-based violence in sub-Saharan Africa, illustrating how IPV in pastoralist settings is not only a matter of individual behavior but also a structural and socially embedded phenomenon. The paper concludes that effective mitigation of IPV in these communities requires holistic interventions that combine cultural transformation, economic empowerment of women, legal and policy enforcement, and community-based awareness programs. By addressing both the structural and immediate drivers of IPV, such strategies can foster safer, more equitable environments for women in pastoralist regions of Kenya.