Endogeneity and Matrifocality in African Gender Studies: Implications for Gender Equity in Kenya

My work explores the concept of endogeneity in African gender studies and its implications for advancing gender equity in Kenya. I argue that African gender studies must prioritize endogenous ontological narratives to produce more contextually relevant understandings of gender, rather than simply validating Western frameworks. I begin by providing a brief historical overview of the development of African sociology in antiquity exemplified by Ibn Khaldūn’s (1378) work predating Auguste Comte. My discussion centers on matrifocality as a key analytical tool for transcending patriarchal discourses rooted in biological determinism. Drawing on the works of African scholars like Ifi Amadiume and Oyèrónkẹ́ Oyěwùmí, I highlight the importance of centering local histories and practices to challenge global gender narratives. Both scholars illustrate how African kinship systems, such as those in Nigeria, exhibit matrifocality, where women are central figures in households and wield significant power in social, economic, and political spheres. This concept contests the presumed universality of patriarchy and provides an alternative lens through which African societies can be understood, showing that power dynamics in these societies are more fluid and complex than previously assumed. I demonstrate the applicability of matrifocality to Kenya, with examples from Kikuyu and Embu communities, where historical practices such as woman-to-woman marriages reflect a fluid gender system. This system allowed women to exercise power and authority within the household and the broader community, challenging the narrative that women’s subordination is an inherent aspect of African society. I advocate for a re-centering of African epistemologies in gender studies to advance gender equity and argue that understanding and embracing matrifocality can provide powerful insights into gender relations in Kenya, offering new strategies for feminist advocacy and policy interventions aimed at dismantling patriarchal systems.