Beyond the Patriarchy: The Climate Matriarchs in Kenya

Written by Natalie Sifuma

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but do we spend enough time thinking about the person behind the lens? Often lost in the depth of the visuals before us, the one responsible for the presentation of these pictorial narratives remains, more often than not, a silent conduit — but depending on who they are and where they draw their inspiration, we can find that there’s more to a picture than a thousand words. If anything, the words that describe a photograph—the genesis of the story is way before the visual storyteller picks up their tools. 

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To some people who know Claire Metitio and Irene Naneu, they are Kenyan Maasai women, two of many who know their place in an otherwise patriarchal and rural society. On a day to day, their lives would revolve around tending to their spouses, children or the elderly who have been left in their care; fetching water and firewood and ensuring the home is in order. But Claire and Irene aren’t your typical Maa women. They are fuelled by curiosity as rare as a gemstone, and enlightened by the work of their fellow Maa women—women who have walked the earth longer and so harbor enough wisdom to effectively rule a kingdom. 

And so as fate would have it, in 2021 Claire and Irene’s wonderment led their paths to cross with a non-profit social enterprise called Lensational. At the time the enterprise had set up a collaborative initiative with the National Adaptation Plan Global Network (NAP Global Network) titled “Envisioning Resilience” which aimed to bring the voices of underrepresented women in adaptation planning through photography. Both Maa ladies were determined to go beyond the traditional roles assigned to them—ensuring not to neglect these positions, but entranced by the possibilities of building upon the innate tradition of Maasai storytelling. 

As they began learning the basics of photography under the pupilage of Lensational and NAP Global Network, their minds were further opened to the endless possibilities that could come from refining their photography skills. In October 2023, they were commissioned to take on a storytelling project that shared the intricate connection between women, climate and care. Claire and Irene took up the assignment, delivering a set of 20 intimate, unfiltered photos of 3 powerful matriarchs—Lenoi, Ngo’to and Pilale—on the frontlines of care against the climate crisis and the conflict it so often breeds. 

The output, titled ‘Matriarchs of Resilience’, rapidly grew in popularity as a photo project by local women paying homage to their local predecessors—the unsung heroes of Maasai lands, the guardians of families whose day-to-day is chartered by an intangible resilience despite the infinite human-induced adversities that befall them. 

Images 1 & 2 by Claire Metito | Images 3 & 4 by Irene Naneu

In the brief provided by Lensational, the team shares: “These photographs show that there are women adapting to a fast-changing world while embracing the traditions that have guided them through generations. With their caring responsibilities running from the youngest to the oldest members of the family, and from the livestock to the land they stand on and the water they drink, their resourcefulness, determination, and love shine through.” 

In January 2024, the photographs were featured in a moving piece by Caroline Kimeu for The Guardian. 

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Our team in Kenya was honored to receive an invitation to attend the ‘Matriarchs of Resilience’ exhibition launch on July 16, allowing us to further understand the recurring challenges women in drought-prone areas face, the benefits of projects such as these for advancing women’s leadership, and why we must continue to invest in women in all their diversity. 

We are grateful and inspired by the work being done by Lensational.

Claire Metito sharing the story behind her images at the Matriarchs for Resilience event

Group discussion with Irene Naneu (in red) to understand her photography journey

SCC Kenya Country Lead—Wangui Mwangi, Communications Specialist—Nariman Naufal, and Head of Communications—Natalie Sifuma