IbieneDeep in the heart of Kenya’s Samburu County lies a village unlike any other. It’s called Umoja (meaning “unity” in Swahili). This unique community, founded in 1990 by Rebecca Lolosoli, is a sanctuary where only women and their children are permitted to live. The rule is simple: men are banned from residency. Once you understand why it was created, the idea begins to make sense.
How the Kenya women-only village began:
Umoja came out of profound necessity. It serves as a refuge for survivors of domestic violence, women fleeing female genital mutilation (FGM), emotional and mental abuse, forced marriages, and sexual assault. In a deeply patriarchal society where women often lack basic rights and ownership, Umoja offers a revolutionary alternative, a place where women build their own freedom from the ground up.
Why men are banned?
They do not allow men to live in the village in order to protect the women and their children. This rule helps survivors feel secure and in control of their lives. The only time they allow males in the village is during the day and it’s purely for trade or meetings, but they must leave before nightfall.
Daily life inside the village:
Life in the Kenya women only village is busy and practical. The women build houses, fetch water, care for children and make decisions together. Children attend school nearby, and chores are shared so no one feels alone.
How the women earn a living?
The women of Umoja support themselves by creating and selling beautiful, traditional Samburu beadwork to tourists and by running a nearby campsite. Every woman contributes ten percent of her earnings back to the village for the collective good, funding their children’s school and other community needs. They gather under the “tree of speech” to make all village decisions, demonstrating a powerful model of matriarchal governance.
What the village means today:
Umoja is a beacon of hope and resilience, proving that when women unite, they can rewrite the rules and build a life of safety, economic independence, and dignity. It’s a remarkable story of strength and the unwavering power of sisterhood.
This village giving women a chance to live without fear, reminds us that sometimes, safety is the first step towards freedom. We hope all women going through such tough experiences find the much-needed refuge.
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