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Cultural Surrogacy and Its Influence on Kinship Ties Among the Pokot Community of West Pokot County, Kenya
Subject area: Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities · Area of research: Religion
DOI: https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I12-1719090
Abstract
Surrogacy, a form of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), is increasingly visible across the globe, yet its acceptance within kinship-based African societies such as the Pokot of Kenya remains contested. This paper examines cultural surrogacy and its influence on kinship ties among the Pokot community of West Pokot County. Grounded in Structural-Functionalism, Social Exchange Theory and Socio-cultural Theory, the study employed a mixed-methods design. A sample of 200 respondents, surrogate mothers, intended parents, church leaders and community elders, was drawn from five sub-counties using purposive and snowball sampling, and 196 (98%) participated. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) in SPSS, while qualitative interview data were analysed thematically. Cultural surrogacy was understood primarily as a practice for preserving family lineage (35.0%) and was legitimised through the involvement of elders (33.3%) and blessing rituals (23.3%). It was widely perceived to reinforce kinship ties and lineage (36.7%) and to strengthen family bonds through shared responsibility (31.7%), while also introducing new family dynamics (25.0%) and, for a minority, strain, jealousy and exclusion. The community itself was almost evenly divided between strong support (26.7%) and opposition from some leaders (25.0%). Thematically, four themes were identified: lineage preservation, communal sanctioning and ritual, reconfiguration of kinship roles, and community ambivalence. The study concludes that cultural surrogacy among the Pokot operates as a communal, lineage-affirming institution whose sustainability depends on emotional support, clear cultural protocols and supportive legal recognition.
Keywords
Cultural Surrogacy, Kinship Ties, Lineage, Family Structure, Pokot Community, Assisted Reproductive Technology
How to cite this paper
@article{1719090,
author = {Chepkwemoi Sharon Shenge Kamoet, Margaret Nanjala Matisi, Edith Naliaka Simiyu},
title = {Cultural Surrogacy and Its Influence on Kinship Ties Among the Pokot Community of West Pokot County, Kenya},
journal = {Iconic Research And Engineering Journals},
year = {2026},
volume = {9},
number = {12},
pages = {2239-2250},
issn = {2456-8880},
url = {https://www.irejournals.com/formatedpaper/1719090.pdf},
abstract = {Surrogacy, a form of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), is increasingly visible across the globe, yet its acceptance within kinship-based African societies such as the Pokot of Kenya remains contested. This paper examines cultural surrogacy and its influence on kinship ties among the Pokot community of West Pokot County. Grounded in Structural-Functionalism, Social Exchange Theory and Socio-cultural Theory, the study employed a mixed-methods design. A sample of 200 respondents, surrogate mothers, intended parents, church leaders and community elders, was drawn from five sub-counties using purposive and snowball sampling, and 196 (98%) participated. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) in SPSS, while qualitative interview data were analysed thematically. Cultural surrogacy was understood primarily as a practice for preserving family lineage (35.0%) and was legitimised through the involvement of elders (33.3%) and blessing rituals (23.3%). It was widely perceived to reinforce kinship ties and lineage (36.7%) and to strengthen family bonds through shared responsibility (31.7%), while also introducing new family dynamics (25.0%) and, for a minority, strain, jealousy and exclusion. The community itself was almost evenly divided between strong support (26.7%) and opposition from some leaders (25.0%). Thematically, four themes were identified: lineage preservation, communal sanctioning and ritual, reconfiguration of kinship roles, and community ambivalence. The study concludes that cultural surrogacy among the Pokot operates as a communal, lineage-affirming institution whose sustainability depends on emotional support, clear cultural protocols and supportive legal recognition.},
keywords = {Cultural Surrogacy, Kinship Ties, Lineage, Family Structure, Pokot Community, Assisted Reproductive Technology},
month = {June},
doi = {https://doi.org/10.64388/IREV9I12-1719090}
}