A team of legal experts has been deployed to assist widows in Murang’a County who have been tussling with property succession row to get justice.
The County Women Representative office has engaged a number of lawyers to offer free legal advisory and help to ensure widows who have been denied their right to inherit properties of their husbands get needed assistance.
During Valentine’s Day on Friday, the County women representative, Sabina Chege pointed out that some widows have been living in pathetic conditions after they were rejected by families of their husbands.
Many succession cases, she added, have been dragging in courts as many widows lack resources to meet legal services.
“The widows in the county and who have been struggling to see their cases be concluded will receive legal services free courtesy of my office,” noted Chege.
The women representative who provided Valentine’s gifts to hundreds of widows who gathered at Kimorori grounds condemned family members who chase away widows so as to inherit their property.
She said some retrogressive cultures and behaviors should be abandoned and widows be given right to inherit property of their husbands and take care of their children.
“It also shameful for some men to try to take advantage of widows to abuse them sexually and give them another burden of bearing more children,” remarked the legislator.
Her office, will also embark on educating widows from the county about the governments funds which have be set aside to benefit them.
“Officers from my office will also embark on creating awareness among widows about how to benefit from various cash transfer programmes,” she added.
The government has established several cash transfer programmes aimed at supporting women which include, Women Enterprise Fund, Uwezo Fund and National Government Affirmative Action Fund (NGAAF).
The MP further observed they are working on plans to establish a Sacco for widows which will empower them economically.
The Sacco will be started at every ward and have an overall county body which will coordinate all branches from wards.
Speaking during the same occasion, the Chairperson of National Wajane Association, Bertha Gaitho said many widows struggle to bring up their children saying the government should come up with a policy to ease succession cases.
Gaitho said the association had prepared a bill aimed at addressing welfare of widows in 2015, but up to date the bill has not seen the door of parliament.
“Our bill is still lying on shelves of the office of Attorney office. We appeal for the bill to be tabled in Parliament for debate and legislation. Once it becomes the law, some of challenges facing widows will be addressed,” added the chairperson.
By Bernard Munyao
