Just transition through the lens of women,children and nature rights in Kenya

Abstract

This paper explores Kenya's pursuit of just transition through the integrated lens of Women's, Children's, and Nature's (WCN) rights. The paper applies intersectionality, environmental justice, and rights-based frameworks to explore how Kenya's constitutional and policy frameworks address equity. It considers how principles of equality, participation, and sustainability shape climate action in Kenya. The paper traces the evolution of environmental governance in Kenya and assesses the gendered and generational vulnerabilities. Connecting global commitments, such as the Paris Agreement and Agenda 2063, with national initiatives, the paper reveals the centrality of WCN rights in achieving inclusive, low-carbon development. The paper examines the concept ‘just transition’ through the lens of women's, children's, and nature's rights. It argues that while Kenya has a robust legislative and institutional framework governing just transition, implementation of just transition interventions remains a challenge because the law in the books continues to be at variance with the laws in action and the lived realities of Women, Children, and Nature rights in the Kenyan socio-political context. The paper unmasks the assumptions inherent in just transition discourses and provides recommendations on how gender, child, and ecological justice can be part of the green transformation in Kenya. The paper concludes that strengthening data, research, participatory monitoring, and policy coherence is important in ensuring that the transition is just and sustainable.