Rising Female-Headed Households among the Nubians: A Case of Historical Marginalisation of an Ethnic Minority in Kenya

The historical marginalised of the Nubian community in Kenya has affected the Nubian women and men’s social-economic and political affairs in similar and differential ways at the household level. In the recent past, the Nubian community has witnessed an increase in the number of female-headed households. Despite the marginalisation and silencing of the Nubian women, they have assumed new role at the household level in a patriarchal community. There is inadequate information on the factors that have contributed to the rise of female-headed households among the Kenyan Nubians. The objective of this paper was to establish the factors that have led to the rise of female-headed households among the Kenyan Nubians. A sample of 74 respondents from female-headed households was drawn from the Nubian settlement of Kibra and Nubia through stratified purposive sampling. The study established that the state and changing socio-economic structures have played a critical role in the rise of female- headed households among the Kenyan Nubians. The recommends for addressing the Nubian land question, poverty in Nubian settlements and fairs treatment of the Nubians in accessing socio-economic and political entitlements. The study also advocates for recognition of Nubian female-headed households as a marginalised group.